Accretion or a Corona? Definitive Observations of the Young Accreting Star TW Hydrae
Abstract
We propose a 500 ks observation of the prototypical accreting young star TW Hydrae to determine whether the X-ray emission is from a hot corona or an accretion shock. In the short archival spectrum, O VII and Ne IX forbidden to intercombination lines signal either extremely high densities that must be associated with a shock, or photoexcitation by UV continuum emission. The definitive measurement for the density is the analogous Mg XI line ratio. We will also measure velocity shifts and line broadening, search for rotational modulation, and determine elemental abundances using standard emission measure distribution techniques. This deep spectrum will probe the density and structure of the magnetic regions associated with the accretion process during star formation.
- Publication:
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Chandra Proposal
- Pub Date:
- September 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006cxo..prop.2109B
- Keywords:
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- Chandra Proposal ID #08200704