A Deep Chandra X-ray Spectrum of the Accreting Young Star TW Hydrae

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution Chandra X-ray spectra to analyze the physical conditions and structure of the accretion and coronal regions in the young star TW Hydrae, revealing discrepancies with existing models.

Contribution

It provides detailed diagnostics of the star's X-ray emitting regions and highlights significant deviations from current theoretical predictions for postshock plasma.

Findings

Identified distinct X-ray emitting regions: corona, accretion shock, and extended postshock plasma.

Measured electron temperature T_e = 2.50 +/- 0.25 MK and density N_e = 3.0 +/- 0.2 x 10^12 cm^(-3) in the shock.

Discovered that postshock plasma has lower density and larger volume than models predict, indicating heating of surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract

We present X-ray spectral analysis of the accreting young star TW Hydrae from a 489 ks observation using the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating. The spectrum provides a rich set of diagnostics for electron temperature T_e, electron density N_e, hydrogen column density N_H, relative elemental abundances and velocities and reveals its source in 3 distinct regions of the stellar atmosphere: the stellar corona, the accretion shock, and a very large extended volume of warm postshock plasma. The presence of Mg XII, Si XIII, and Si XIV emission lines in the spectrum requires coronal structures at ~10 MK. Lower temperature lines (e.g., from O VIII, Ne IX, and Mg XI) formed at 2.5 MK appear more consistent with emission from an accretion shock. He-like Ne IX line ratio diagnostics indicate that T_e = 2.50 +/- 0.25 MK and N_e = 3.0 +/- 0.2 x 10^(12) cm^(-3) in the shock. These values agree well with standard magnetic accretion models. However, the Chandra observations significantly diverge from current model predictions for the postshock plasma. This gas is expected to cool radiatively, producing O VII as it flows into an increasingly dense stellar atmosphere. Surprisingly, O VII indicates N_e = 5.7 ^(+4.4}_(-1.2) x 10^(11) cm^(-3), five times lower than N_e in the accretion shock itself, and ~7 times lower than the model prediction. We estimate that the postshock region producing O VII has roughly 300 times larger volume, and 30 times more emitting mass than the shock itself. Apparently, the shocked plasma heats the surrounding stellar atmosphere to soft X-ray emitting temperatures and supplies this material to nearby large magnetic structures -- which may be closed magnetic loops or open magnetic field leading to mass outflow. (Abridged)