Investigating 2MASS J06593158-0405277: a FUor burst in a triple system?

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution observations to analyze a FUor outburst in a young triple system, revealing a disk and multiple companions, which sheds light on the possible causes of such episodic accretion events.

Contribution

First detailed high-resolution imaging of a FUor in a triple system, highlighting the role of companions in FUor outbursts.

Findings

Detection of an extended disk-like structure around the FUor

Identification of a very low-mass companion at ~100 au

Possible third companion at ~11 au

Abstract

FUor outbursts in young stellar objects (YSOs) are the most dramatic events among episodic accretion phenomena. The origin of these bursts is not clear: disk instabilities and/or disk perturbations by an external body being the most viable hypotheses. Here, we report our VLT/SINFONI high angular resolution AO-assisted observations of 2MASS J06593158-0405277, which is undergoing a recently discovered FUor outburst. Our observations reveal the presence of an extended disc-like structure around the FUor, a very low-mass companion (2MASS J06593158-0405277B) at ~100 au in projection, and, possibly, a third closer companion at ~11 au. These sources appear to be young, displaying accretion signatures. Assuming the components are physically linked, 2MASS J06593158-0405277 would then be one of the very few triple systems observed in FUors.