Imaging the Disk around TW Hya with the Submillimeter Array

C. Qi; P. T. P. Ho; D. J. Wilner; S. Takakuwa; N. Hirano; N. Ohashi; T. L. Bourke; Q. Zhang; G. A. Blake; M. Hogerheijde; M. Saito; M. Choi; J. Yang

doi:10.1086/421063

arXiv · astro-ph/0403412

Imaging the Disk around TW Hya with the Submillimeter Array

C. Qi·P. T. P. Ho·D. J. Wilner·S. Takakuwa·N. Hirano·N. Ohashi·T. L. Bourke·Q. Zhang·G. A. Blake·M. Hogerheijde·M. Saito·M. Choi·J. Yang

View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We present ~2"-4" aperture synthesis observations of the circumstellar disk surrounding the nearby young star TW Hya in the CO J=2--1 and J=3--2 lines and associated dust continuum obtained with the partially completed Submillimeter Array. The extent and peak flux of the 230 and 345 GHz dust emission follow closely the predictions of the irradiated accretion disk model of Calvet et al. (2002). The resolved molecular line emission extends to a radius of at least 200 AU, the full extent of the disk visible in scattered light, and shows a clear pattern of Keplerian rotation. Comparison of the images with 2D Monte Carlo models constrains the disk inclination angle to 7+/-1 degrees. The CO emission is optically thick in both lines, and the kinetic temperature in the line formation region is ~20K. Substantial CO depletion, by an order of magnitude or more from canonical dark cloud values, is required to explain the characteristics of the line emission.

Explore related subjects

astro-ph

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

C. Qi, P. T. P. Ho, D. J. Wilner, S. Takakuwa, N. Hirano, N. Ohashi, T. L. Bourke, Q. Zhang, G. A. Blake, M. Hogerheijde, M. Saito, M. Choi, J. Yang. 2004-03-17. Imaging the Disk around TW Hya with the Submillimeter Array. https://doi.org/10.1086/421063

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Cosmic Conundrums with Quantum Corrections

Darh energy was discovered over 25 years ago and we do not have an explanation of it. Dark matter comprises 95% of matter in the universe and we still don't know what it is. The Webb telescope has been finding fully formed galaxies with massive black holes millions of times the mass of the sun in the early universe and we don't have any explanation. A quantum density limitation will be used to solve these and other outstanding problems.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2026

On binary pulsars and the force of gravity

The energy-momentum budget of the astrophysical systems can be studied by the exact local conservation equation derived by Landau and Lifshitz. We show that a similar equation is valid for the Einstein-Cartan gravity. We reanalyze a binary pulsar system using the Landau-Lifshitz conservation equation and show that the orbital period change rate can be completely understood as a curvature backreaction process. Taking into account the detailed theoretical and observational research of relativistic binary pulsar systems, especially the system of Hulse and Taylor, we conclude that general relativity and astrophysical observations rule out the existence of gravitational radiation. We comment upon the LIGO GW events and their alternative explanation, as well as the recent pulsar timing arrays data.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2026

Oscillation frequencies and mode lifetimes in alpha Centauri A

We analyse our recently-published velocity measurements of alpha Cen A (Butler et al. 2004). After adjusting the weights on a night-by-night basis in order to optimize the window function to minimize sidelobes, we extract 42 oscillation frequencies with l=0 to 3 and measure the large and small frequency separations. We give fitted relations to these frequencies that can be compared with theoretical models and conclude that the observed scatter about these fits is due to the finite lifetimes of the oscillation modes. We estimate the mode lifetimes to be 1-2 d, substantially shorter than in the Sun.

astro-ph↗