The nature of the objects of Joy: a study of the T Tauri phenomenon.
Abstract
Results are presented for an extensive survey of 49 T Tauri stars in the Taurus dark-cloud complex and the rho Oph dark cloud which was undertaken to develop a model that can provide a natural explanation for all the observed 'envelope phenomena'. The survey included UBV photoelectric photometry, IR observations, and spectroscopy. The properties of several individual stars are discussed, and the general spectroscopic characteristics of the T Tauri class are summarized along with the properties of the observed light variations at optical wavelengths and the characteristics of the overlying continuous emission which veils the photospheric absorption spectrum. The analysis shows that the T Tauri phenomenon can be best understood in terms of a model in which a relatively low-mass pre-main-sequence star of late spectral type is surrounded by a hot (about 20,000 K) gaseous envelope. It is concluded that: (1) the primary emission features arise from bound-bound, free-bound, and free-free emission in the hot envelope; (2) envelope emission can account for the UV, blue, and IR continua, as well as for the irregular light variations; (3) dust emission probably contributes an insignificant fraction of the observed radiation shortward of 10 microns in most of the stars; and (4) a large majority of the stars are approaching the main sequence along quasi-static equilibrium tracks.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
- Pub Date:
- March 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1086/190364
- Bibcode:
- 1976ApJS...30..307R
- Keywords:
-
- Stellar Envelopes;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Stellar Models;
- Stellar Spectrophotometry;
- T Tauri Stars;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Interstellar Extinction;
- Silicates;
- Spectral Energy Distribution;
- Tables (Data);
- Ubv Spectra;
- Astrophysics