Microwave Observations of Edge-on Protoplanetary Disks: Program Overview and First Results

TL;DR

This paper presents a survey of edge-on protoplanetary disks using the EVLA to study grain growth and sedimentation, with initial results indicating possible grain depletion in a specific disk.

Contribution

It introduces a multi-frequency EVLA survey targeting edge-on disks, providing new insights into vertical grain distribution and disk composition.

Findings

Detected variability in IRAS04368+2557's radio emission.

Indications of a lack of pebble-sized grains in the disk.

Established observational strategies for future studies.

Abstract

We are undertaking a multi-frequency Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) survey of edge-on protoplanetary disks to probe the growth of solids in each disk, sedimentation of such material into the disk midplane, and the connection of these phenomena to the planet formation process. The projection of edge-on disk systems along our line of sight enables a study of the vertical stratification of large grains with fewer model dependencies than would be required for disks that are more face-on. Robust studies of the spatial distribution of grains up to ~1 cm in size are possible with the wavelength range and sensitivity of the EVLA. In this contribution we describe target selection and observational strategies. First results concerning the Class 0 source IRAS04368+2557 (L1527 IRS) are presented, including a study of this source's 8.46 GHz continuum variability over short and long time baselines and an indication that its protoplanetary disk may have a dearth of pebble-sized grains.