Molecular hydrogen emission from discs in the η Chamaeleontis cluster
Abstract
Discs in the 6 Myr old cluster η Chamaeleontis were searched for emission from hot H2. Around the M3 star ECHA J0843.3-7905, we detect circumstellar gas orbiting at ~2 au. If the gas is ultraviolet excited, the ro-vibrational line traces a hot gas layer supported by a disc of mass ~0.03Msolar, similar to the minimum mass solar nebula. Such a gas reservoir at 6 Myr would promote the formation and the inwards migration of gas giant planets.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- August 2007
- DOI:
- 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.12049.x
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0705.4601
- Bibcode:
- 2007MNRAS.379.1658R
- Keywords:
-
- circumstellar matter;
- planetary systems: formation;
- infrared: stars;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 9 pages