Spectro-interferometric imaging of protoplanetary disks
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Star and planet formation is one of the most active and exciting research areas of modern astrophysics. Many of the fundamental open questions in this field are related to the structure and physics of the innermost regions of protoplanetary disks, where material is transported onto the forming star, ejected in powerful jets & outflows, or accreted onto newly-formed planets. However, most of the aforementioned processes take place in the inner few astronomical units around the star, eluding a direct investigation with conventional imaging techniques. In this research project, we will employ the new opportunities provided by infrared interferometry to obtain model-independent images of the terrestrial planet-forming zone of protoplanetary disks. Providing the angular resolution of a diffraction-limited 200 m optical telescope, these images will yield unique constraints on disk+accretion physics and allow us to search for planet-related disk surface structures, such as tidally cleared gaps or hot accretion spots around embedded protoplanets. Using existing and upcoming infrared & sub-mm instrumentation at the VLTI, CHARA and ALMA interferometers, we will spatially resolve the inner disk regions over a wide wavelength range. In order to derive the 3-D density & temperature distribution and dust composition, we will employ the TORUS gas+dust radiative transfer code. Employing high spectral dispersion (up to R=12000), our interferometric observations will spatially and spectrally resolve the origin of spectral line emission, providing direct information about the gas velocity field on sub-AU scales. The spectro-interferometric and spectroscopic data will be modelled using a large TORUS line radiative transfer grid, providing fundamental new constraints on the mass accretion and outflow launching mechanism in YSOs.
Publications
Aarnio A
(2017)
High-cadence, High-resolution Spectroscopic Observations of Herbig Stars HD 98922 and V1295 Aquila
in The Astrophysical Journal
Boley P
(2016)
A multi-wavelength interferometric study of the massive young stellar object IRAS 13481-6124
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Caratti O Garatti A
(2015)
AMBER/VLTI high spectral resolution observations of the Br ? emitting region in HD 98922 A compact disc wind launched from the inner disc region???
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Davies C
(2018)
Probing the origin of UX Ori-type variability in the YSO binary CO Ori with VLTI/GRAVITY
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Davies C
(2018)
Simultaneous Spectral Energy Distribution and Near-infrared Interferometry Modeling of HD 142666
in The Astrophysical Journal
Defrère D
(2018)
Space-based infrared interferometry to study exoplanetary atmospheres
in Experimental Astronomy
Fedriani R
(2018)
Parsec-scale jets driven by high-mass young stellar objects Connecting the au- and the parsec-scale jet in IRAS 13481-6124
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Garatti A
(2015)
INVESTIGATING 2MASS J06593158-0405277: AN FUor BURST IN A TRIPLE SYSTEM?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gardner T
(2018)
Precision Orbit of d Delphini and Prospects for Astrometric Detection of Exoplanets
in The Astrophysical Journal
Günther H
(2017)
TYC 8241 2652 1 and the case of the disappearing disk: No smoking gun yet
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hinkley S
(2015)
EARLY RESULTS FROM VLT SPHERE: LONG-SLIT SPECTROSCOPY OF 2MASS 0122-2439 B, A YOUNG COMPANION NEAR THE DEUTERIUM BURNING LIMIT
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hone E
(2019)
Compact gaseous accretion disk in Keplerian rotation around MWC 147
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hone E
(2017)
Gas dynamics in the inner few AU around the Herbig B[e] star MWC297 Indications of a disk wind from kinematic modeling and velocity-resolved interferometric imaging?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hummel C
(2017)
Orbital Elements and Stellar Parameters of the Active Binary UX Arietis
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kluska J
(2014)
First images from the PIONIER/VLTI optical interferometry imaging survey of Herbig Ae/Be stars
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Kluska J
(2018)
A Multi-instrument and Multi-wavelength High Angular Resolution Study of MWC 614: Quantum Heated Particles Inside the Disk Cavity*
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kraus S
(2018)
Maximizing the community exploitation of the VLTI 2nd-generation instruments
in Experimental Astronomy
Kraus S
(2015)
The interferometric view of Herbig Ae/Be stars
in Astrophysics and Space Science
Kraus S
(2017)
Dust-trapping Vortices and a Potentially Planet-triggered Spiral Wake in the Pre-transitional Disk of V1247 Orionis
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Kraus S
(2016)
V346 Normae: first post-outburst observations of an FU Orionis star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Kraus S
(2014)
Combining optical spectroscopy and interferometry
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Kraus S
(2013)
RESOLVING THE GAP AND AU-SCALE ASYMMETRIES IN THE PRE-TRANSITIONAL DISK OF V1247 ORIONIS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kraus S
(2017)
A High-mass Protobinary System with Spatially Resolved Circumstellar Accretion Disks and Circumbinary Disk*
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Kreplin A
(2016)
Resolving the inner disk of UX Orionis
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kreplin A
(2018)
On the Br? line emission of the Herbig Ae/Be star MWC 120
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kreplin A
(2020)
First NIR interferometrically resolved high-order Brackett and forbidden Fe lines of a B[e] star: V921 Sco
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kurosawa Ryuichi
(2016)
Probing the wind launching regions of the Herbig Be star HD 58647 with high spectral resolution interferometry
in ArXiv e-prints
Lazareff B
(2017)
Structure of Herbig AeBe disks at the milliarcsecond scale A statistical survey in the H band using PIONIER-VLTI
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Long Z
(2018)
Differences in the Gas and Dust Distribution in the Transitional Disk of a Sun-like Young Star, PDS 70
in The Astrophysical Journal
Meyer D
(2019)
On the ALMA observability of nascent massive multiple systems formed by gravitational instability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Monnier J
(2017)
Polarized Disk Emission from Herbig Ae/Be Stars Observed Using Gemini Planet Imager: HD 144432, HD 150193, HD 163296, and HD 169142
in The Astrophysical Journal
Monnier J
(2019)
Multiple Spiral Arms in the Disk around Intermediate-mass Binary HD 34700A
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ohta Y
(2016)
Extreme Asymmetry in the Disk of V1247 Ori
Reiter M
(2017)
Linking Signatures of Accretion with Magnetic Field Measurements-Line Profiles are not Significantly Different in Magnetic and Non-magnetic Herbig Ae/Be Stars
in The Astrophysical Journal
Richardson N
(2013)
THE H -BAND EMITTING REGION OF THE LUMINOUS BLUE VARIABLE P CYGNI: SPECTROPHOTOMETRY AND INTERFEROMETRY OF THE WIND
in The Astrophysical Journal
Roettenbacher R
(2015)
DETECTING THE COMPANIONS AND ELLIPSOIDAL VARIATIONS OF RS CVn PRIMARIES. I. s GEMINORUM
in The Astrophysical Journal
Description | The goal of the project was to to study protoplanetary disc structure in low- and high-mass young stellar objects and to better understand the accretion and outflow-launching processes that take place in these objects. A major finding from the fellowship was the discovery of the first FU Orionis star that showed a dramatic drop in accretion rate, marking the first time that a member of the FUor class has been observed to switch to a low accretion phase (Kraus et al. 2016). On high-mass star formation, we resolved the star IRAS17216-3801 into a binary system that is 3-times more massive and 5-times more compact than other high-mass multiplies imaged at infrared wavelength (Kraus et al. 2017). During the fellowship, I took up various leadership roles on an European level, including two 2-year terms as President of the Science Coucil of the European Interferometry Initiative (EII; http://www.european-interferometry.eu). I was also elected as Project Scientist of the "Planet Formation Imager" (PFI; http://www.planetformationimager.org) project. The aims of PFI is to offer an ambitious vision for the future of ground-based infrared astronomy and I was instrumental in defining the PFI science objectives and and in pushing the project ahead. |
Exploitation Route | Our concept studies on the Planet Formation Imager (PFI) might be taken forward with a Phase A study that should aim to construct this next-generation facility and to make it operational by the early 2030s. PFI fits in perfectly in the STFC Science Roadmap scheme, where "Science missions to understand the processes of planetary formation" are listed as future opportunity. Supporting technology developments for PFI was also one of the recommendation of the 2015 "Exoplanets UK Research Review". |
Sectors | Other |
URL | http://www.skraus.eu |
Description | The research resulted in societal impact through various five Press Releases, a Radio interview, a YouTube video that was viewed more than 3 million times, and an activity that aimed a widening participation. The details are described in the "Engagement Activities" section. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Big Bang SW |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I interacted with about 40-50 pupils that visited the University of Exeter for the Big Bang Fair SW and presented Exoplanet-related material at the booth of the Astrophysics group. This activity aimed to influence the decision of the students whether or not they would go to university and to encourage them to study STEM subjects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://nearme.thebigbangfair.co.uk/South_west/ |
Description | ESO Press release on Eta Carinae imaging |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | On October 19, 2016, an ESO press release on our VLTI imaging of the wind-wind collision zone of Eta Carinae was released |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1637/ |
Description | Interview BBC Radio Cornwall |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | On May 11, 2016, I gave an interview to BBC Radio Cornwall concerning our Nature paper on surface imaging of Zeta Andromedae |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Press Release on Nature paper on Zeta Andromedae imaging |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | On May 4, 2016 we released a press release on our Nature paper on surface imaging of Zeta Andromedae |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_509221_en.html |
Description | Press release on ALMA results |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press release |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_615036_en.html |
Description | Virtual Reality video on YouTube |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | YouTube video "Take a Virtual Reality tour of six REAL exoplanets (4K, 360° VR experience) ", was viewed 914,000 times between September 22, 2017 and March 10, 2018. It received 5200 likes so far. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhLExhpXX0E |