Doppler Probe of Accretion onto a T Tauri star

TL;DR

This study used high-resolution spectra to analyze accretion flows in a T Tauri star, revealing detailed temperature and density structures and estimating mass accretion rates, providing new observational insights into star formation processes.

Contribution

First direct inference of density and temperature distributions in accretion flows around a T Tauri star from spectral data, challenging standard magnetic field models.

Findings

Accretion flow density and temperature increase toward the star.

Mass accretion rate estimated at about 10^(-7) solar masses per year.

Observed flow conditions exceed predictions from standard dipole magnetic field models.

Abstract

The YY Ori stars are T Tauri stars with prominent time-variable redshifted absorption components that flank certain emission lines. One of the brightest in this class is S CrA, a visual double star. We have obtained a series of high-resolution spectra of the two components during four nights with the UVES spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope. We followed the spectral changes occurring in S CrA to derive the physical structure of the accreting gas. We found that both stars are very similar with regard to surface temperature, radius, and mass. Variable redshifted absorption components are particularly prominent in the SE component. During one night, this star developed a spectrum unique among the T Tauri stars: extremely strong and broad redshifted absorption components appeared in many lines of neutral and ionized metals, in addition to those of hydrogen and helium. The absorption depths of cooler, low ionization lines peak at low velocities - while more highly ionized lines have peak absorption depths at high velocities. The different line profiles indicate that the temperature and density of the accretion stream increase as material approaches the star. We derive the physical conditions of the flow at several points along the accretion funnel directly from the spectrum of the infalling gas. We estimated mass accretion rates of about 10^(-7) solar masses per year, which is similar to that derived from the relation based on the strength of H alpha emission line. This is the first time the density and temperature distributions in accretion flows around a T Tauri star have been inferred from observations. Compared with predictions from standard models of accretion in T Tauri stars, which assume a dipole stellar magnetic field, we obtained higher densities and a steeper temperature rise toward the star.