DISCOVERY OF A DISK GAP CANDIDATE AT 20 AU IN TW HYDRAE

• We present a new Subaru/HiCIAO high-contrast H-band polarized intensity (PI) image of a nearby transitional disk associated with TW Hydrae. The scattered light from the disk was detected from 0 ''.2 to 1 ''.5 (11-81 AU) and the PI image shows a clear axisymmetric depression in PI at similar to 0 ''.4 (similar to 20 AU) from the central star, similar to the similar to 80 AU gap previously reported from Hubble Space Telescope images. The azimuthal PI profile also shows that the disk beyond 0 ''.2 is almost axisymmetric. We discuss two possible scenarios explaining the origin of the PI depression: (1) a gap structure may exist at similar to 20 AU from the central star because of a shallow slope seen in the PI profile, and (2) grain growth may be occurring in the inner region of the disk. Multi-band observations at near-infrared and millimeter/submillimeter wavelengths play a complementary role in investigating dust opacity and may help reveal the origin of the gap more precisely.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

planetary systems

protoplanetary disks

stars: individual (TW Hydrae)

stars: pre-main sequence

techniques: polarimetric

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)