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S. D. Brittain (University of Notre Dame), M. J. Mumma (Goddard Space Flight Center), T. W. Rettig (University of Notre Dame), N. Dello-Russo, M. DiSanti (Goddard Space Flight Center), K. P. Magee-Sauer (Rowan University)
Advances in infrared instrumentation have recently allowed feasible searches for cometary volatiles and H3+ in minimally embedded or isolated young stellar objects (YSO’s). We have recently utilized two high-resolution (~ 20,000) infrared spectrometers (NIRSPEC at Keck 2 and CSHELL at IRTF) to probe the gas composition in pre-planetary YSO disks, in order to develop a chemical taxonomy and test conditions in comet forming regions. We will present initial spectral reductions of several AeBe and TTauri stars which preliminarily indicate the presence of CO, CH4 and H3+ emission. If further observations confirm the presence of these lines, they will be the first detection of a CH4 and H3+ in emission from a YSO. We will also present our data from a preliminary search for CO gas around wTTS. These observations may help resolve the debate about the existence of gas disks around wTTS, and may have implications for planet building time scales.