Stellar and Circumstellar Properties of the Pre-Main-Sequence Binary GV Tau From Infrared Spectroscopy
Abstract
We report spatially resolved spectroscopy of both components of the low-mass pre-main-sequence binary GV Tau. High-resolution spectroscopy in the K and L bands is used to characterize the stellar properties of the binary and to explore the nature of the circumstellar environment. We find that the southern component, GV Tau S, is a radial velocity variable, possibly as a result of an unseen low-mass companion. The strong warm gaseous HCN absorption reported previously by Gibb and coworkers toward GV Tau S was not present during the epoch of our observations. Instead, we detect warm ( 500 K) molecular absorption with similar properties toward the northern infrared companion, GV Tau N. At the epoch of our observations, the absorbing gas toward GV Tau N was approximately at the radial velocity of the GV Tau molecular envelope, but it was redshifted with respect to the star by ~13 km s(exp-1). One interpretation of our results is that GV Tau N is also a binary and that most of the warm molecular absorption arises in a circumbinary disk viewed close to edge-on.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 20, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA493499
Entities
People
- Greg W. Doppmann
- Joan R. Najita
- John S. Carr
Organizations
- California Institute of Technology