Disk-Halo Model for Flat-Spectrum T Tauri Stars

Abstract

We explore the origin of the flat spectrum seen in some T Tauri stars by considering a three-component structure: a central star, a circumstellar disk, and a dusty halo. The radiative energy transport is faithfully treated by solving the angle- and frequency-dependent radiative transfer equation in two space dimensions assuming axisymmetry, and hence the radiative equilibrium temperature in the disk and halo is determined simultaneously. The disk is effectively heated by the scattering and reprocessing of stellar radiation through the halo. The large mid- to far-infrared excess originates from the photosphere of the warmed disk, resulting in a flat spectrum, as observed. The halo which we consider is observed as a compact reflection nebula, and is discriminated from extended, disk-like envelopes around flat-spectrum T Tauri stars. We show that the overall spectral shape of flat-spectrum T Tauri stars can be reproduced by the present disk-halo model.

10 pages including 9 figures

References in corpus (2)

• Spectral Energy Distributions of T Tauri Stars With Passive Circumstellar Disks
• Unveiling the Circumstellar Envelope and Disk: A Sub-Arcsecond Survey of Circumstellar Structures

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• Disks and Halos in Pre-Main-Sequence Stars
• Mid-Infrared Observations of Class I/Flat-Spectrum Systems in Six Nearby Molecular Clouds
• A Spectrophotometric Method to Determine the Inclination of Class I Objects