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Does relative rotation inclination affect disk lifetime in young binaries?

Biddle, Lauren I. (2017) Does relative rotation inclination affect disk lifetime in young binaries? Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

Surveys show strong evidence that disks typically dissipate in ~5 Myr, therefore planets must form on a similar timescale. However, the primary mechanisms driving disk-loss are still under investigation. Young binary stars are ideal targets for studying disk evolution because their stellar component provides a small control sample. This study probes the possibility that the relative rotation axes’ inclinations of young binaries may significantly affect disk lifetime, thus impacting their ability to form planets. A case study of the young binary DF Tau combines observational and computational analyses to investigate component rotation axes’ inclinations and compare them to the circumstellar disk properties of this system. Periodogram analyses of unresolved time-series photometry recover a rotation period of 10.5 d for the primary and an upper limit of 3.3 d for the secondary. Rotation periods combined with spectrally-derived projected rotation velocities yield an inclination of 90 degrees for both components. Additional investigation into a strong 9.3 d period present in periodogram indicates accretion hot spots are likely the source. DF Tau is one example target selected from a sample of ~100 different young binary observations and highlights the importance this data set has on informing our understanding of disk evolution and planet formation.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement: © Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords: Pure sciences; Binary stars; Disks; Planet formation; Young stars
Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status: Student
Department/Unit: Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations
College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Science > Physics and Astronomy
Date Deposited: 05 Dec 2017 01:13
URI: http://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/4937

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