Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics Imaging Polarimetry of Herbig Ae/Be Stars

Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics Imaging Polarimetry of Herbig Ae/Be Stars

We have used laser guide star adaptive optics and a near-infrared dual-channel imaging polarimeter to observe light scattered in the circumstellar environment of Herbig Ae/Be stars on scales of 100 to 300 astronomical units. We revealed a strongly polarized, biconical nebula 10 arc seconds (6000 ast...

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Veröffentlicht in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2004-02, Vol.303 (5662), p.1345-1348
Hauptverfasser: Perrin, Marshall D., Graham, James R., Kalas, Paul, Lloyd, James P., Max, Claire E., Gavel, Donald T., Pennington, Deanna M., Gates, Elinor L.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Adaptive optics
Astronomy
Earth, ocean, space
Emission-line stars (of, be, luminous blue variables, wolf-rayet, etc.)
Exact sciences and technology
Imaging
Infrared imaging systems
Laser guide stars
Lasers
Light
Nebulae
Observational astronomy
Observations
Optical astronomy
Optics
Polarimetry
Reflection nebulae
Scientific Concepts
Stars
Stars & galaxies
T Tauri stars
Variable and peculiar stars (including novae)
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:We have used laser guide star adaptive optics and a near-infrared dual-channel imaging polarimeter to observe light scattered in the circumstellar environment of Herbig Ae/Be stars on scales of 100 to 300 astronomical units. We revealed a strongly polarized, biconical nebula 10 arc seconds (6000 astronomical units) in diameter around the star LkHα 198 and also observed a polarized jet-like feature associated with the deeply embedded source LkHα 198-IR. The star LkHα 233 presents a narrow, unpolarized dark lane consistent with an optically thick circumstellar disk blocking our direct view of the star. These data show that the lower-mass T Tauri and intermediate mass Herbig Ae/Be stars share a common evolutionary sequence.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1094602