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D. E. Potter, S. M. Andrews (U. of Hawaii, IFA)
We present high-resolution (FWHM~70 mas) H-band polarimetric images of the circumstellar material between and surrounding the CTTS triple system SR 24 N(ab) + SR 24 S taken with the Hokupa`a - Gemini adaptive optics system. The observations reveal an apparent bridge of material that extends between the resolved circumprimary disk around SR 24 S and the resolved binary SR 24 N(ab) (a~100 mas), as well as other arm-like extensions emanating from the stars. The polarimetry map shows that the ``tidal bridge'' material closer to SR 24 N(ab) is illuminated by SR 24 N(ab) and likewise for the material closer to SR 24 S, indicating that the material indeed physically spans the space between SR 24 N(ab) and S. Although these observations do not rule out the chance possibility that this material is the result of an outflow from one of the stars, the observed morphology indicates that we are seeing the aftermath of a recent close encounter between the northern and southern components.
The proposed disruption scenario is consistent with observed strong H-alpha emission, indicative of elevated mass accretion. We compare our observations with larger field-of-view archival HST/WFPC2 optical images to further support our hypothesis.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: potter@ifa.hawaii.edu
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.