Do the Spectral Energy Distributions of GK Tauri and HK Tauri Indicate the Presence of Planetary Companions?
Abstract
The interpretation of the spectral dips of three objects (DF Tau, GK Tau, and HK Tau) for which lunar occultation data are available is discussed. Arguments against an alternate interpretation of the spectral dips (the 'disk-shell' model) are presented, and lunar occultation data are used to constrain the properties of the inferred orbiting companions. In the case of DF Tau, the occultation data indicate a stellar mass companion whose orbital radius is consistent with the present inferred gap location. For GK Tau and HK Tau, no such companions are visible, which suggests that the companions responsible for the inferred gaps are substellar. In either case, the estimated gap width is not consistent with a single orbiting body, but is consistent with a group of planets or planetesimals.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/186768
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJ...405L..71M
- Keywords:
-
- Planetary Systems;
- Spectral Energy Distribution;
- Stellar Envelopes;
- Stellar Spectrophotometry;
- T Tauri Stars;
- Pre-Main Sequence Stars;
- Stellar Models;
- Astrophysics;
- STARS: CIRCUMSTELLAR MATTER;
- STARS: PLANETARY SYSTEMS;
- STARS: PRE--MAIN-SEQUENCE