MINDS: The molecule-rich disc of the Herbig star HD 35929 revealed with JWST/MIRI

TL;DR

This study uses JWST/MIRI data to analyze the inner disc of the Herbig star HD 35929, revealing a rich and warm gas composition including unexpected SiO detection, indicating complex chemistry and physical conditions.

Contribution

First detailed molecular analysis of an intermediate-mass Herbig star's inner disc using JWST, revealing new insights into its chemical composition and physical state.

Findings

Detected gas phase H2O, CO, CO2, OH, and SiO in the disc.

Found molecular column densities higher than in T Tauri discs.

Indicated a compact, warm, and chemically complex inner disc.

Abstract

Our knowledge of the chemical composition of the gas in the inner disc of intermediate-mass young stars is limited, due to the lack of suitable instrumentation. The launch of JWST has provided a significant improvement in our ability to probe gas in these inner discs. We analyse the gas composition and emitting conditions of the disc around HD 35929, a young intermediate-mass Herbig star, using MIRI/MRS data. Our goal is to constrain the chemistry and kinematics of the gas phase molecules detected in the inner disc. We use iSLAT to examine the observed molecular lines and DuCKLiNG to detect, fit, and analyse the molecular emission. We find gas phase H2O, CO, CO2, and OH in the disc, as well as HI recombination lines. Surprisingly, we also detect gas phase SiO in the fundamental v=1-0 vibrational band. We derive column densities and temperature ranges of the detected species, arising from the inner ~0.2 au, hinting towards a compact and very warm disc. The molecular column densities are much higher than found in lower mass T Tauri discs. In general, the molecular composition is consistent with an O-rich gas from which silicate-rich solids condense and the strong gas phase molecular line emission suggests a low dust opacity. The unexpected detection of gas phase SiO at the source velocity points to an incomplete condensation of rock forming elements in the disc, suggesting chemical disequilibrium and/or an underestimate of the gas kinetic temperature.