Looking for Pure Rotational H_2 Emission from Protoplanetary Disks

Abstract

We report on a limited search for pure-rotational molecular hydrogen emission associated with young, pre-main-sequence stars. We looked for H_2 v=0 J = 3->1 and J = 4->2 emission in the mid-infrared using the Texas Echelon-Cross-Echelle Spectrograph (TEXES) at NASA's 3m Infrared Telescope Facility. The high spectral and spatial resolution of our observations lead to more stringent limits on narrow line emission close to the source than previously achieved. One star, AB Aur, shows a possible (2sigma) H_2 detection, but further observations are required to make a confident statement. Our non-detections suggest that a significant fraction, perhaps all, of previously reported H_2 emission towards these objects could be extended on scales of 5" or more.

14 pages including 2 figures. Accepted by ApJ Letters

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• Modeling Molecular-Line Emission from Circumstellar Disks