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S. J. Shukla, J. S. Bary, D. A. Weintraub (Vanderbilt University), J. H. Kastner (Rochester Institute of Technology)
The detection of disks around young stars is largely dependent on the detection of trace molecules and of dust by infrared excesses. The bulk of the mass of these protoplanetary disks, however, consists of molecular hydrogen, which is notoriously difficult to detect. Previously, however, we have reported detections of 2.12183 \mum emission from molecular hydrogen found at the rest velocity and the position of the classical T Tauri stars TW Hya, GG Tau A, and LkCa 15, as well as the weak-lined T Tauri star, DoAr 21 (Bary et al. 2003, ApJ, 586: 1136-1147). These spatial and spectral signatures of the H2 emission lines strongly suggest that this gas is found in circumstellar disks. Here, we report the detection of similar emission signatures indicating the presence of H2 emission in circumstellar disks around five more T Tauri stars. We also reconfirm the existence of H2 around both GG Tau and LkCa 15. The H2 line fluxes detected at 2.12183 \mum are on the order of 10-15 erg s-1 cm-2. These new detections include the classical T Tauri stars AA Tau, CW Tau, UY Aur, and GM Aur as well as the weak-lined T Tauri star, V773 Tau.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.