Semi-analytic calculations for extended mid-Infrared emission associated with FU Ori-type objects

TL;DR

This study develops a semi-analytic method to estimate mid-infrared emission in FU Ori-type objects using near-infrared polarimetry data, revealing that single scattering dominates the extended emission and highlighting uncertainties in dust properties.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel semi-analytic approach to model mid-infrared emission in FUors based on polarized near-infrared observations, advancing understanding of circumstellar dust and accretion processes.

Findings

Mid-infrared emission is dominated by single scattering.

Thermal emission is negligible without additional heating.

Uncertainties in dust properties lead to order-of-magnitude variations.

Abstract

(Aims) Near-infrared imaging polarimetry at high-angular resolutions has revealed intriguing distribution of circumstellar dust towards FU Ori-type objects (FUors). These dust grains are probably associated with either an accretion disk or an infalling envelope. Follow-up observations in the mid-infrared would lead us to a better understanding of the hierarchy of the mass accretion processes onto FUors (i.e., envelope and disk accretion), which hold keys for understanding the mechanism of their accretion outbursts and the growth of low-mass young stellar objects in general. (Method) We have developed a semi-analytic method to estimate the mid-infrared intensity distributions using the observed polarized intensity (PI) distributions in H-band (lambda=1.65 micron). We have derived intensity distributions for two FUors, FU Ori and V1735 Cyg, at three wavelengths (lambda=3.5/4.8/12 micron) for various cases, i.e. with a star or a flat compact self-luminous disk as an illuminating source; an optically thick disk or an optically thin envelope for circumstellar dust grains; and three different dust models. (Results) We have been able to obtain self-consistent results for many cases and regions, in particular when the viewing angle of the disk/envelope is zero (face-on). Our calculations suggest that the mid-infrared extended emission at the above wavelengths is dominated by the single scattering process. The contribution of thermal emission is negligible unless we add an additional heating mechanism such as adiabatic heating in spiral structures and/or fragments. The uncertain nature of the central illuminating source, the distribution of circumstellar dust grains and the optical properties of dust grains yield uncertainties in the intensity levels on orders of magnitude, e.g., 20-800, for the disk/envelope aspect ratios of ~0.2 and lambda=3-13 micron.