GG Tau A's Circumstellar Disk

Dynamics of Circumstellar Disks III: The case of GG Tau A

Authors:

Nelson et al

Abstract:

We present 2-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (SPH) code, VINE, to model a self-gravitating binary system similar to the GG Tau A system. We simulate systems configured with semi-major axes of either a=62~AU (`wide') or a=32~AU (`close'), and with eccentricity of either e=0 or e=0.3. Strong spiral structures are generated with large material streams extending inwards. A small fraction accretes onto the circumstellar disks, with most returning to the torus. Structures also propagate outwards, generating net outwards mass flow and eventually losing coherence at large distances. The torus becomes significantly eccentric in shape. Accretion onto the stars occurs at a rate of a few ×10−8\msun/yr implying disk lifetimes shorter than ∼104~yr, without replenishment. Only wide configurations retain disks by virtue of robust accretion. In eccentric configurations, accretion is episodic, occurs preferentially onto the secondary at wrates peaked near binary periapse. We conclude that the \ggtaua\ torus is strongly self gravitating and that a major contribution to its thermal energy is shock dissipation. We interpret its observed features as manifestations of spiral structures and the low density material surrounding it as an excretion disk created by outward mass flux. We interpret GG Tau A as a coplanar system with an eccentric torus, and account for its supposed mutual inclination as due to degeneracy between the interpretation of inclination and eccentricity. Although the disks persist for long enough to permit planet formation, the environment remains unfavorable due to high temperatures. We conclude that the GG Tau A system is in an eccentric, a∼62~AU orbit.

GG Tauri A triple System: A System With a Circumtrinary (?) Protoplanetary Disk Around Stars With Disks

CO Gas orbiting around the GG Tauri A triple System: rings beyond the ring ?

Authors:

Tang et al

Abstract:

We aim at unveiling the observational imprint of physical mechanisms that govern planetary formation in the young, multiple system GG Tau A. We present ALMA observations of 12CO and 13CO 3-2 and continuum at 0.9 mm at 0.35" resolution. The 12CO gas, found in the cavity of the dust ring where no 13CO gas is detected, confirms the existence of a CO accretion shock near the circumstellar disk of GG Tau Aa. The outer disk and the hot spot lying at the outer edge of the dust ring are observed both in 12CO and 13CO. The gas emission in the outer disk can be radially decomposed in a series of slightly overlapping gaussian rings, suggesting the presence of unresolved gaps. The dip closest to the disk center lies at a radius very close to the CO hot spot location (∼250−260~au). Studies of the CO excitation conditions reveal that the outer disk remains in the shadow of the ring. The hot spot probably results from local heating processes. The two latter points strongly support the hypothesis making the hot spot an embedded proto-planet shepherding the outer disk and accreting surrounding material which may be traced by the the redshifted component observed in the spectra around the hot spot.

Near-Infrared Polarimetry of the GG Tauri A Binary System

Near-Infrared Polarimetry of the GG Tauri A Binary System

Authors:

Itoh et al

Abstract:

A high angular resolution near-infrared polarized-intensity image of the GG Tau A binary system was obtained with the Subaru Telescope. The image shows the circumbinary disk scattering the light from the central binary. The azimuthal profile of the polarized intensity of the circumbinary disk is roughly reproduced by a simple disk model with the Henyey-Greenstein function and the Rayleigh function, indicating small dust grains at the surface of the disk. Combined with a previous observation of the circumbinary disk, our image indicates that the gap structure in the circumbinary disk orbits anti-clockwise, while material in the disk orbit clockwise. We propose a shadow of material located between the central binary and the circumbinary disk. The separations and position angles of the stellar components of the binary in the past 20 years are consistent with the binary orbit with a = 33.4 AU and e = 0.34.

The Binary System GG Tau A Forming Planets

Possible planet formation in the young, low-mass, multiple stellar system GG Tau A

Authors:

Dutrey et al

Abstract:

The formation of planets around binary stars may be more difficult than around single stars. In a close binary star (with a separation of less than a hundred astronomical units), theory predicts the presence of circumstellar disks around each star, and an outer circumbinary disk surrounding a gravitationally cleared inner cavity around the stars. Given that the inner disks are depleted by accretion onto the stars on timescales of a few thousand years, any replenishing material must be transferred from the outer reservoir to fuel planet formation (which occurs on timescales of about one million years). Gas flowing through disk cavities has been detected in single star systems6. A circumbinary disk was discovered around the young low-mass binary system GG Tau A (ref. 7), which has recently been shown to be a hierarchical triple system. It has one large inner disk around the single star, GG Tau Aa, and shows small amounts of shocked hydrogen gas residing within the central cavity, but other than a single weak detection11, the distribution of cold gas in this cavity or in any other binary or multiple star system has not hitherto been determined. Here we report imaging of gas fragments emitting radiation characteristic of carbon monoxide within the GG Tau A cavity. From the kinematics we conclude that the flow appears capable of sustaining the inner disk (around GG Tau Aa) beyond the accretion lifetime, leaving time for planet formation to occur there. These results show the complexity of planet formation around multiple stars and confirm the general picture predicted by numerical simulations.