C2d Spitzer IRS spectra of disks around T Tauri stars. I. Silicate emission and grain growth

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Jacqueline Kessler-Silacci
  • Jean Charles Augereau
  • Cornelis P. Dullemond
  • Vincent Geers
  • Fred Lahuis
  • Neal J. Evans
  • Ewine F. Van Dishoeck
  • Geoffrey A. Blake
  • A. C. Adwin Boogert
  • Joanna Brown
  • Jørgensen, Jes Kristian
  • Claudia Knez
  • Klaus M. Pontoppidan

Infrared ∼5-35 μm spectra for 40 solar mass T Tauri stars and 7 intermediate-mass Herbig Ae stars with circumstellar disks were obtained using the Spitzer Space Telescope as part of the c2d IRS survey. This work complements prior spectroscopic studies of silicate infrared emission from disks, which were focused on intermediate-mass stars, with observations of solar mass stars limited primarily to the 10 μm region. The observed 10 and 20 μm silicate feature strengths/shapes are consistent with source-to-source variations in grain size. A large fraction of the features are weak and flat, consistent with micron-sized grains indicating fast grain growth (from 0.1 to 1.0 μm in radius). In addition, approximately half of the T Tauri star spectra show crystalline silicate features near 28 and 33 μm, indicating significant processing when compared to interstellar grains. A few sources show large 10-to-20 μm ratios and require even larger grains emitting at 20 μm than at 10 μm. This size difference may arise from the difference in the depth into the disk probed by the two silicate emission bands in disks where dust settling has occurred. The 10 μm feature strength versus shape trend is not correlated with age or Ha equivalent width, suggesting that some amount of turbulent mixing and regeneration of small grains is occurring. The strength versus shape trend is related to spectral type, however, with M stars showing significantly flatter 10 μm features (larger grain sizes) than A/B stars. The connection between spectral type and grain size is interpreted in terms of the variation in the silicate emission radius as a function of stellar luminosity, but could also be indicative of other spectral-type-dependent factors (e.g., X-rays, UV radiation, and stellar/disk winds).

Original languageEnglish
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume639
Issue number1 I
Pages (from-to)275-291
Number of pages17
ISSN0004-637X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2006
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Circumstellar matter, Infrared: ISM, ISM: lines and bands, Solar system: formation, Stars: formation, Stars: pre-main-sequence

ID: 234019820