MAPPING H -BAND SCATTERED LIGHT EMISSION IN THE MYSTERIOUS SR21 TRANSITIONAL DISK

We present the first near infrared (NIR) spatially resolved images of the circumstellar transitional disk around SR21. These images were obtained with the SubaruHiCIAOcamera, adaptive optics, and the polarized differential imaging technique. We compare our results with previously published spatially...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2013-04, Vol.767 (1), p.1-26
Main Authors: Follette, Katherine B, Tamura, Motohide, Hashimoto, Jun, Whitney, Barbara, Grady, Carol, Close, Laird, Andrews, Sean M, Kwon, Jungmi, Wisniewski, John, Brandt, Timothy D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptive optics
Arrays
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
CAMERAS
CAVITIES
Disks
EMISSION
GRAIN SIZE
Holes
Imaging
Light emission
MAPPING
OPTICS
PROTOPLANETS
RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER
Radiative transfer
SCATTERING
SIMULATION
VISIBLE RADIATION
WALLS
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Summary:We present the first near infrared (NIR) spatially resolved images of the circumstellar transitional disk around SR21. These images were obtained with the SubaruHiCIAOcamera, adaptive optics, and the polarized differential imaging technique. We compare our results with previously published spatially resolved 880 [mu]m continuum Sub-millimeter Array images that show an inner r [< or ~] 36AU cavity in SR21. Radiative transfer models reveal that the large disk depletion factor invoked to explain SR21's sub-mm cavity cannot be "universal" for all grain sizes. We hypothesize that this profile is dominated by an optically thin disk envelope or atmosphere component. We also discuss the compatibility of our data with the previously postulated existence of a sub-stellar companion to SR21 at r ~ 10-20AU, and find that we can neither exclude nor verify this scenario. This study demonstrates the power of multi-wavelength imaging of transitional disks to inform modeling efforts, including the debate over precisely what physical mechanism is responsible for clearing these disks of their large mid-plane grains.
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/10