Short- and long-term variations of the high mass accretion rate classical T Tauri star DR Tau

TL;DR

This study analyzes the short- and long-term variability of the classical T Tauri star DR Tau using high-cadence photometry and spectroscopy, revealing complex accretion, wind, and obscuration processes driving its brightness changes.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive multi-timescale analysis of DR Tau's variability, linking photometric and spectroscopic data to physical mechanisms like accretion and wind.

Findings

DR Tau shows stochastic variability with amplitudes up to 1.4 mag.

Variability amplitude decreases with increasing wavelength.

Spectroscopy indicates dynamic accretion flows and wind contributions.

Abstract

Classical T Tauri stars are newly formed, low mass stars which may display both periodic and random variations in their brightness. The interaction between the star and its circumstellar disk is time-dependent, leading to short or long-term changes in the environment, and hence variability of the system. By compiling a large dataset with high-cadence photometric (Kepler, TESS), and high-resolution spectroscopic observations (CFHT/ESPaDOnS) of the highly variable T Tauri star DR Tau, we aim to examine the short- and long-term variability of the system, and identify the underlying physical mechanisms. Our results reveal that DR Tau exhibits stochastic photometric variability not only on daily, but also on hourly timescale with peak-to-peak amplitude of 1.4 mag probably originating from accretion related variations. Our ground-based multifilter photometry shows that the amplitude of the variability decreases with increasing wavelength. This trend towards the infrared wavelengths suggests that part of the disk may be optically thick and invariable. The spectroscopic analysis showed that the H$\alpha$ line presents the most complex line profile with several components but the significance of the components changes over time. This suggests the presence and variation of both accretion flow and wind. Broad and narrow components can be clearly distinguished in the He I and the Ca II lines, suggesting contribution from both the accretion flow and the post-shock region. DR Tau exhibits high level of photometric and spectroscopic variability on both short- and long-timescales, which is caused by the combination of accretion, wind, stellar activity, and obscuration by circumstellar matter; and the significance of the physical mechanisms causing the observed variability changes over time.