Inhomogeneous dust eclipses in young stars. The case of CQ Tauri

TL;DR

This study reveals that inhomogeneous dust clouds cause complex, variable eclipses in young stars like CQ Tauri, with significant extinction gradients and structures affecting observed stellar features.

Contribution

It provides detailed characterization of dust cloud structures and extinction gradients causing eclipses in young stars, highlighting inhomogeneity and complexity.

Findings

Isolated optically thick dust structures with sizes less than 0.6 times the stellar radius.

Extinction gradients as high as a few magnitudes per stellar radius.

Complex and variable effects on stellar absorption lines and the Rossiter--McLaughlin effect.

Abstract

We find that dust clouds which eclipse young stars obscure the stellar disc inhomogeneously. In the particular case of CQ Tau, we find isolated optically thick structures with sizes $\lesssim0.6R_*$ and derive the typical $A_{V}$ gradient in the plane of the sky, finding it as high as a few magnitudes per stellar radius. The large extinction gradients and complex structure of the obscuring clouds lead not only to a noticeable Rossiter--McLaughlin effect, but also to complex and variable shaping of stellar absorption lines.