G. Aresu

Consistent dust and gas models for protoplanetary disks I. Disk shape, dust settling, opacities, and PAHs

We propose a set of standard assumptions for the modelling of Class II and III protoplanetary disks, which includes detailed continuum radiative transfer, thermo-chemical modelling of gas and ice, and line radiative transfer from optical to cm wavelengths. The first paper of this series focuses on the assumptions about the shape of the disk, the dust opacities, dust settling, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In particular, we propose new standard dust opacities for disk models, we present a simplified treatment of PAHs in radiative equilibrium which is sufficient to reproduce the PAH emission features, and we suggest using a simple yet physically justified treatment of dust settling. We roughly adjust parameters to obtain a model that predicts continuum and line observations that resemble typical multi-wavelength continuum and line observations of Class II T Tauri stars. We systematically study the impact of each model parameter (disk mass, disk extension and shape, dust settling, dust size and opacity, gas/dust ratio, etc.) on all mainstream continuum and line observables, in particular on the SED, mm-slope, continuum visibilities, and emission lines including [OI] 63 μm, high-J CO lines, (sub-)mm CO isotopologue lines, and CO fundamental ro-vibrational lines. We find that evolved dust properties, i.e. large grains, often needed to fit the SED, have important consequences for disk chemistry and heating/cooling balance, leading to stronger near- to far-IR emission lines in general. Strong dust settling and missing disk flaring have similar effects on continuum observations, but opposite effects on far-IR gas emission lines. PAH molecules can efficiently shield the gas from stellar UV radiation because of their strong absorption and negligible scattering opacities in comparison to evolved dust. The observable millimetre-slope of the SED can become significantly more gentle in the case of cold disk midplanes, which we find regularly in our T Tauri models. We propose to use line observations of robust chemical tracers of the gas, such as O, CO, and H2, as additional constraints to determine a number of key properties of the disks, such as disk shape and mass, opacities, and the dust/gas ratio, by simultaneously fitting continuum and line observations.

GASPS—A Herschel survey of gas and dust in protoplanetary disks: summary and initial statistics

We describe a large-scale far-infrared line and continuum survey of protoplanetary disk through to young debris disk systems carried out using the ACS instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory. This Open Time Key program, known as GASPS (Gas Survey of Protoplanetary Systems), targeted similar to 250 young stars in narrow wavelength regions covering the [OI] fine structure line at 63 mu m the brightest far-infrared line in such objects. A subset of the brightest targets were also surveyed in [OI]145 mu m, [CII] at 157 mu m, as well as several transitions of H2O and high-excitation CO lines at selected wavelengths between 78 and 180 mu m. Additionally, GASPS included continuum photometry at 70, 100 and 160 mu m, around the peak of the dust emission. The targets were SED Class II-III T Tauri stars and debris disks from seven nearby young associations, along with a comparable sample of isolated Herbig AeBe stars. The aim was to study the global gas and dust content in a wide sample of circumstellar disks, combining the results with models in a systematic way. In this overview paper we review the scientific aims, target selection and observing strategy of the program. We summarise some of the initial results, showing line identifications, listing the detections, and giving a first statistical study of line detectability. The [OI] line at 63 mu m was the brightest line seen in almost all objects, by a factor of similar to 10. Overall [OI]63 mu m detection rates were 49%, with 100% of HAeBe stars and 43% of T Tauri stars detected. A comparison with published disk dust masses (derived mainly from sub-mm continuum, assuming standard values of the mm mass opacity) shows a dust mass threshold for [OI] 63 mu m detection of similar to 10(-5) M-circle dot. Normalising to a distance of 140 pc, 84% of objects with dust masses >= 10(-5) M-circle dot can be detected in this line in the present survey; 32% of those of mass 10(-6)-10(-5) M-circle dot, and only a very small number of unusual objects with lower masses can be detected. This is consistent with models with a moderate UV excess and disk flaring. For a given disk mass, [OI] detectability is lower for M stars compared with earlier spectral types. Both the continuum and line emission was, in most systems, spatially and spectrally unresolved and centred on the star, suggesting that emission in most cases was from the disk. Approximately 10 objects showed resolved emission, most likely from outflows. In the GASPS sample, [OI] detection rates in T Tauri associations in the 0.3-4 Myr age range were similar to 50%. For each association in the 5-20 Myr age range, similar to 2 stars remain detectable in [OI]63 mu m, and no systems were detected in associations with age >20 Myr. Comparing with the total number of young stars in each association, and assuming a ISM-like gas/dust ratio, this indicates that similar to 18% of stars retain a gas-rich disk of total mass similar to 1 M-Jupiter for 1-4 Myr, 1-7% keep such disks for 5-10 Myr, but none are detected beyond 10-20 Myr. The brightest [OI] objects from GASPS were also observed in [OI]145 mu m, [CII]157 mu m and CO J = 18 - 17, with detection rates of 20-40%. Detection of the [CII] line was not correlated with disk mass, suggesting it arises more commonly from a compact remnant envelope.

Herschel-PACS observation of the 10 Myr old T Tauri disk TW Hya : Constraining the disk gas mass

Planets are formed in disks around young stars. With an age of similar to 10 Myr, TW Hya is one of the nearest T Tauri stars that is still surrounded by a relatively massive disk. In addition a large number of molecules has been found in the TW Hya disk, making TW Hya the perfect test case in a large survey of disks with Herschel-PACS to directly study their gaseous component. We aim to constrain the gas and dust mass of the circumstellar disk around TW Hya. We observed the fine-structure lines of [OI] and [CII] as part of the open-time large program GASPS. We complement this with continuum data and ground-based (12) CO 3-2 and (CO)-C-13 3-2 observations. We simultaneously model the continuum and the line fluxes with the 3D Monte-Carlo code MCFOST and the thermo-chemical code ProDiMo to derive the gas and dust masses. We detect the [OI] line at 63 mu m. The other lines that were observed, [OI] at 145 mu m and [CII] at 157 mu m, are not detected. No extended emission has been found. Preliminary modeling of the photometric and line data assuming [(CO)-C-12]/[(CO)-C-13] = 69 suggests a dust mass for grains with radius < 1 mm of similar to 1.9 x 10(-4) M-circle dot (total solid mass of 3 x 10(-3) M-circle dot) and a gas mass of (0.5-5) x 10(-3) M-circle dot. The gas-to-dust mass may be lower than the standard interstellar value of 100.

X-ray impact on the protoplanetary disks around T Tauri stars

Context. T Tauri stars have X-ray luminosities in the range LX = 10 28 − 10 32 erg s −1 . These luminosities are similar to their UV luminosities (LUV ∼ 10 30 −10 31 erg s −1 ) and therefore X-rays are expected to affect the physics and chemistry of the upper layers of their surrounding protoplanetary disks. Aims. The effects and importance of X-rays on the chemical and hydrostatic structure of protoplanetary disks are investigated, species tracing X-ray irradiation (for LX ≥ 10 29 erg s −1 ) are identified and predictions for [O i], [C ii], and [N ii] fine structure line fluxes are provided. Methods. We implemented X-ray physics and chemistry into the chemo-physical disk code ProDiMo. We include Coulomb heating and H2 ionization as heating processes and both primary and secondary ionization due to X-rays in the chemistry. Results. X-rays heat the gas causing it to expand in the optically thin surface layers. Neutral molecular species are not significantly affected in terms of their abundance and spatial distribution, but charged species such as N + ,O H + ,H 2O + ,a nd H 3O + display enhanced abundances in the disk surface. Conclusions. Coulomb heating by X-rays changes the vertical structure of the disk, yielding temperatures of ∼8000 K out to distances of 50 AU. The chemical structure is altered by the high electron abundance of the gas at the disk surface, causing an efficient ion-molecule chemistry. The products of this, OH + ,H 2O + and H3O + , are of great interest for observations of low-mass young stellar objects with the Herschel Space Observatory. Both [O i] (at 63 and 145 μm) and [C ii] (at 158 μm) fine structure emission are affected only for LX > 10 30 erg s −1 .

Gas modelling in the disc of HD 163296

We present detailed model fits to observations of the disc aro und the Herbig Ae star HD 163296. This well-studied object has an age of∼ 4 Myr, with evidence of a circumstellar disc extending out to∼ 540 AU. We use the radiation thermo-chemical disc code ProDiMo to model the gas and dust in the circumstellar disc of HD 163296, and attempt to determine the disc properties by fitting to observational line and continuum data. These include new Herschel/PACS observations obtained as part of the open-time key program GASPS (Gas in Protoplanetary Systems), consisting of a detection of the [Oi] 63µm line and upper limits for several other far infrared lines. We complement this with continuum data and ground-based observations of the 12 CO 3-2, 2-1 and 13 CO J=1-0 line transitions, as well as the H 2 S(1) transition. We explore the effects of stellar ultraviolet variability and dust settling on the line emission, and on th e derived disc properties. Our fitting e fforts lead to derived gas/dust ratios in the range 9-100, depending on the assumptions made. We note that the line fluxes are sensitive in general to the degree of dust settli ng in the disc, with an increase in line flux for settled models. This is most pronoun ced in lines which are formed in the warm gas in the inner disc, but the low excitation molecular lines are also affected. This has serious implications for attempts to derive the disc gas mass from line observations. We derive fractional PAH abundances between 0.007 and 0.04 relative to ISM levels. Using a stellar and UV excess input spectrum based on a detailed analysis of observations, we find that the all observations are consiste nt with the previously assumed disc geometry.

Gas in the protoplanetary disc of HD 169142: Herschel's view

In an effort to simultaneously study the gas and dust components of the disc surrounding the young Herbig Ae star HD 169142, we present far-IR observations obtained with the PACS instrument onboard the Herschel Space Observatory. This work is part of the open time key program GASPS, which is aimed at studying the evolution of protoplanetary discs. To constrain the gas properties in the outer disc, we observed the star at several key gas-lines, including [OI] 63.2 and 145.5 mu m, [CII] 157.7 mu m, CO 72.8 and 90.2 mu m, and o-H2O 78.7 and 179.5 mu m. We only detect the [OI] 63.2 mu m line in our spectra, and derive upper limits for the other lines. We complement our data set with PACS photometry and (CO)-C-12/13 data obtained with the Submillimeter Array. Furthermore, we derive accurate stellar parameters from optical spectra and UV to mm photometry. We model the dust continuum with the 3D radiative transfer code MCFOST and use this model as an input to analyse the gas lines with the thermo-chemical code ProDIMo. Our dataset is consistent with a simple model in which the gas and dust are well-mixed in a disc with a continuous structure between 20 and 200 AU, but this is not a unique solution. Our modelling effort allows us to constrain the gas-to-dust mass ratio as well as the relative abundance of the PAHs in the disc by simultaneously fitting the lines of several species that originate in different regions. Our results are inconsistent with a gas-poor disc with a large UV excess; a gas mass of 5.0 +/- 2.0 x 10(-3) M-circle dot is still present in this disc, in agreement with earlier CO observations.

Gas lines from the 5-Myr old optically thin disk around HD141569A - Herschel observations and modeling

Context. The gas- and dust dissipation processes in disks around young stars remain uncertain despite numerous studies. At the distance of∼ 99‐116 pc, HD141569A is one of the nearest HerbigAe stars that is surrounded by a tenuous disk, probably in transition between a massive primordial disk and a debris disk. Atomic and molecular gases haves been found in the structured 5-Myr old HD141569A disk, making HD141569A the perfect object within which to directly study the gaseous atomic and molecular component. Aims. We wish to constrain the gas and dust mass in the disk around HD141569A. Methods. We observed the fine-structure lines of Oi at 63 and 145µm and the Cii line at 157µm with the PACS instrument onboard the Herschel Space Telescopeas part of the open-time large programme GASPS. We complemented the atomic line observations with archival Spitzer spectroscopic and photometric continuum data, a ground-based VLT-VISIR image at 8.6µm, and 12 CO fundamental ro-vibrational and pure rotational J=3‐2 observations. We simultaneously modeled the continuum emission and the line fluxes with the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code MCFOST and the thermo-chemical code ProDiMo to derive the disk gas- and dust properties assuming no dust settling. Results. The models suggest that the oxygen lines are emitted from the inner disk around HD141569A, whereas the [Cii] line emission is more extended. The CO submillimeter flux is emitt ed mostly by the outer disk. Simultaneous modeling of the photometric and line data using a realistic disk structure suggests a dus t mass derived from grains with a radius smaller than 1 mm of∼ 2.1× 10 −7 M⊙ and from grains with a radius of up to 1 cm of 4.9× 10 −6 M⊙. We constrained the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) mass to be between 2×10 −11 and 1.4×10 −10 M⊙ assuming circumcircumcoronene (C150H30) as the representative PAH. The associated PAH abundance relative to hydrogen is lower than those found in the interstellar medium (3×10 −7 ) by two to three orders of magnitude. The disk around HD141569A is less massive in gas (2.5 to 4.9× 10 −4 M⊙ or 67 to 164 M⊕) and has a flat opening angle (< 10%). Conclusions. We constrained simultaneously the silicate dust grain, PAH, and gas mass in a∼5-Myr old Herbig Ae disk. The diskaveraged gas-to-dust-mass is most likely around 100, which is the assumed value at the disk formation despite the uncertainties due to disagreements between the different gas tracers. If the disk was originally massive, the ga s and the dust would have dissipated at the same rate.

Herschel/PACS observations of young sources in Taurus: the far-infrared counterpart of optical jets

Context. Observations of the atomic and molecular line emission associated with jets and outflows emitted by young stellar objects provide sensitive diagnostics of the excitation conditions, and can be used to trace the various evolutionary stages they pass through as they evolve to become main sequence stars. Aims. To understand the relevance of atomic and molecular cooling in shocks, and how accretion and ejection efficiency evolves with the evolutionary state of the sources, we will study the far-infrared counterparts of bright optical jets associated with Class I and II sources in Taurus (T Tau, DG Tau A, DG Tau B, FS Tau A+B, and RW Aur). Methods. We have analysed Herschel/PACS observations of a number of atomic ([O i]63 μm, 145 μm, [C ii]158 μm) and molecular (high-J CO, H2O, OH) lines, collected within the open time key project GASPS (PI: W. R. F. Dent). To constrain the origin of the detected lines we have compared the obtained FIR emission maps with the emission from optical-jets and millimetre-outflows, and the measured line fluxes and ratios with predictions from shock and disk models. Results. All of the targets are associated with extended emission in the atomic lines; in particular, the strong [O i ]6 3μm emission is correlated with the direction of the optical jet/mm-outflow. The line ratios suggest that the atomic lines can be excited in fast dissociative J-shocks occurring along the jet. The molecular emission, on the contrary, originates from a compact region, that is spatially and spectrally unresolved, and lines from highly excited levels are detected (e.g., the o-H2 O8 18–707 line, and the CO J = 36−35 line). Disk models are unable to explain the brightness of the observed lines (CO and H2O line fluxes up to 10 −15 −6 × 10 −16 Wm −2 ). Slow C- or J-shocks with high pre-shock densities reproduce the observed H2O and high-J CO lines; however, the disk and/or UV-heated outflow cavities may contribute to the observed emission. Conclusions. Similarly to Class 0 sources, the FIR emission associated with Class I and II jet-sources is likely to be shock-excited. While the cooling is dominated by CO and H2O lines in Class 0 sources, [O i] becomes an important coolant as the source evolves and the environment is cleared. The cooling and mass loss rates estimated for Class II and I sources are one to four orders of magnitude lower than for Class 0 sources. This provides strong evidence to indicate that the outflow activity decreases as the source evolves.

Water Vapor in the Protoplanetary Disk of DG Tau

Water is key in the evolution of protoplanetary disks and the formation of comets and icy/water planets. While high excitation water lines originating in the hot inner disk have been detected in several T Tauri stars (TTSs), water vapor from the outer disk, where most of water ice reservoir is stored, was only reported in the closeby TTS TW Hya. We present spectrally resolved Herschel/HIFI observations of the young TTS DG Tau in the ortho- and para- water ground-state transitions at 557, 1113 GHz. The lines show a narrow double-peaked profile, consistent with an origin in the outer disk, and are 19-26 times brighter than in TW Hya. In contrast, CO and [C II] lines are dominated by emission from the envelope/outflow, which makes H2O lines a unique tracer of the disk of DG Tau. Disk modeling with the thermo-chemical code ProDiMo indicates that the strong UV field, due to the young age and strong accretion of DG Tau, irradiates a disk upper layer at 10-90 AU from the star, heating it up to temperatures of 600 K and producing the observed bright water lines. The models suggest a disk mass of 0.015-0.1 Msun, consistent with the estimated minimum mass of the solar nebula before planet formation, and a water reservoir of 1e2-1e3 Earth oceans in vapour, and 100 times larger in the form of ice. Hence, this detection supports the scenario of ocean delivery on terrestrial planets by impact of icy bodies forming in the outer disk.

GAS in Protoplanetary Systems (GASPS): I. First results

Context. Circumstellar discs are ubiquitous around young stars, but rapidly dissipate their gas and dust on timescales of a few Myr. The Herschel Space Observatory allows for the study of the warm disc atmosphere, using far-infrared spectroscopy to measure gas content and excitation conditions, and far-IR photometry to constrain the dust distribution. Aims. We aim to detect and characterize the gas content of circumstellar discs in four targets as part of the Herschel science demonstration phase. Methods. We carried out sensitive medium resolution spectroscopy and high sensitivity photometry at λ ~ 60–190 μ m using the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory. Results. We detect [OI] 63 μ m emission from the young stars HD 169142, TW Hydrae, and RECX 15, but not HD 181327. No other lines, including [CII] 158 and [OI] 145, are significantly detected. All four stars are detected in photometry at 70 and 160 μ m. Extensive models are presented in associated papers.