Abstract
We present new high-resolution (∼0.″09) H-band imaging observations of the circumstellar disk around the T Tauri star SU Aur. Our observations with Subaru-HiCIAO have revealed the presence of scattered light as close as 0″. 15 (∼20 AU) to the star. Within our image, we identify bright emission associated with a disk with a minimum radius of ∼90 AU, an inclination of ∼35° from the plane of the sky, and an approximate PA of 15° for the major axis. We find a brightness asymmetry between the northern and southern sides of the disk due to a non-axisymmetric disk structure. We also identify a pair of asymmetric tail structures extending east and west from the disk. The western tail extends at least 2″. 5 (350 AU) from the star, and is probably associated with a reflection nebula previously observed at optical and near-IR wavelengths. The eastern tail extends at least 1″ (140 AU) at the present signal-tonoise. These tails are likely due to an encounter with an unseen brown dwarf, but our results do not exclude the explanation that these tails are outflow cavities or jets.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | L10 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| Volume | 806 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 10 2015 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
Keywords
- polarization
- protoplanetary disks
- stars: individual (SU Aur)
- stars: pre-main sequence