High-contrast Polarimetry Observation of the T Tau Circumstellar Environment

We conducted high-contrast polarimetry observations of T Tau in the H-band, using the HiCIAO instrument mounted on the Subaru Telescope, revealing structures as near as 0.$\arcsec $1 f r o m t h e s t a r s T T a u N a n d T T a u S . T h e w h o l e T T a u s y s t e m i s f o u n d t o b e s u r r o u n d e d b y n e b u l a − l i k e e n v e l o p e s, a n d s e v e r a l o u t f l o w − r e l a t e d s t r u c t u r e s a r e d e t e c t e d i n t h e s e e n v e l o p e s . W e a n a l y z e d t h e d e t a i l e d p o l a r i z a t i o n p a t t e r n s o f t h e c i r c u m s t e l l a r s t r u c t u r e s n e a r e a c h c o m p o n e n t o f t h i s t r i p l e y o u n g s t a r s y s t e m a n d d e t e r m i n e d c o n s t r a i n t s o n t h e c i r c u m s t e l l a r d i s k s a n d o u t f l o w s t r u c t u r e s . W e s u g g e s t t h a t t h e n e a r l y f a c e − o n c i r c u m s t e l l a r d i s k o f T T a u N i s n o l a r g e r t h a n 0.$ \arcsec $8, o r 117 A U, i n t h e n o r t h w e s t, b a s e d o n t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a h o l e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n, a n d n o l a r g e r t h a n 0.$ \arcsec $27, o r 40 A U, i n t h e s o u t h . A n e w s t r u c t u r e " N 5 " e x t e n d s t o a b o u t 0.$ \arcsec $42, o r 59 A U, o n t h e s o u t h w e s t o f t h e s t a r, b e l i e v e d t o b e p a r t o f t h e d i s k . W e s u g g e s t t h a t T T a u S i s s u r r o u n d e d b y a h i g h l y i n c l i n e d c i r c u m b i n a r y d i s k w i t h a r a d i u s o f a b o u t 0.$ \arcsec $3, o r 44 A U, w i t h a p o s i t i o n a n g l e o f a b o u t 30$ ^\circ$, that is misaligned with the orbit of the T Tau S binary. After analyzing the positions and polarization vector patterns of the outflow-related structures, we suggest that T Tau S should trigger the well-known E-W outflow, and is also likely to be responsible for a southwest precessing outflow "coil" and a possible south outflow.

Keywords

protoplanetary disks, binaries: general (T Tau), stars: pre-main sequence, stars: variables: T Tauri, Herbig Ae/Be

Journal Title

Astrophysical Journal

Journal ISSN

0004-637X
1538-4357

Volume Title

861

Publisher

American Astronomical Society

Publisher DOI

https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aac6c8

Rights

http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved

Sponsorship

Science and Technology Facilities Council (ST/P000673/1)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (ST/L000636/1)

Collections

Cambridge University Research Outputs