Stellar multiplicity is a possible cause for creating protoplanetary disc substructures, as tidal forces from a close-in spectroscopic companion can carve out gaps and shape disc architecture. However, in young, active systems, the radial velocity (RV) signatures are often complicated by stellar activity. We investigate RY Lup, a classical T Tauri star hosting a disc with a 60 au cavity, where studies with Gaia astrometry and VLT/SPHERE imaging hinted at an unseen companion. Using high-resolution VLT/ESPRESSO spectra and the least-squares deconvolution (LSD) technique, we analyse RV variations over 327 days. We detect significant line profile variations with a periodic signal of 3.75 days, aligning with prior photometric estimates. The variations are compatible with a close-in binary system at 0.04 au and a mass ratio of q 0.6. Combined analysis of RV data and ALMA dynamical mass estimates, using 13CO and 18CO, reveals a highly misaligned system. The nearly face-on binary i 13 deg is misaligned to both the inner and outer discs i 50 deg and 70 deg, respectively. The derived orbital separation is compatible with the inner disc size, with the inner rim at a = 0.12 au, measured from VLTI/GRAVITY, which suggests a highly warped disc structure. Nonetheless, the short orbital period conflicts with the derived eccentricity (e 0.23). To explore alternative explanations, we assess the impact of stellar spots on RV signals. While the LSD deformations can be modelled by different cool spot configurations, a 15
Context. Observations of helium emission lines from classical T Tauri stars at high resolution (R-lambda > 10 000) offer great potential, showing distinct profile characteristics that help probe regions within the accretion geometry untapped by hydrogen lines. Parallel studies in the planetary-mass regime have not been explored. Aims. We investigate helium line emission from the nearby (47 pc), wide orbit (similar to 84 au), similar to 13 M-Jup, accreting circumbinary companion Delorme 1 (AB)b and analyse the resolved profile characteristics to infer clues to line origin. Methods. We obtained high signal-to-noise spectra of the target over 33 exposures with VLT/UVES over near-ultraviolet to optical wavelengths at high resolution (R-lambda similar to 50 000). We studied the helium line profiles in the spectra and compared them to helium emission recorded from both accreting and non-accreting young stellar objects. Results. We detected seven neutral helium (He I) lines lambda lambda 3890, 4027, 4473, 4923, 5017, 5877, 6680 at high confidence (> 5 sigma), with notable flux variation between epochs. The line profiles of He I lambda lambda 5877,4923,4473,4027 show clear asymmetry, with a narrow component at similar to 0 kms(-1) and a broad component redshifted by similar to 15 kms(-1). The accretion luminosity (1.3(-0.7)(+1.6) x 10(-5) L-circle dot) and mass accretion rate (0.7(-0.4)(+0.9) x 10(-8) M-Jup yr(-1)) obtained from median He I line luminosities using empirical scaling relations from stars are comparable but slightly higher than from the target's ultraviolet excess emission. Conclusions. The protoplanet Delorme 1 (AB)b exhibits asymmetric He I lines similar to classical T Tauri stars, but with much smaller widths for the narrow and broad components. The triplet-singlet line ratio, a strong correlation with ultraviolet excess and the near-zero, redshifted velocities obtained for the narrow component suggest that it originates within the post-shock region, close to the planet surface. The persistent redshift of the broad component, its line width, and velocity correlation with the narrow component imply an origin within the shock structure, closer to the shock front. Emission seems to be dominated by accretion based on the obtained accretion luminosities, but a contribution from chromospheric activity may be present.
Context. Accretion processes in the planetary-mass regime are still poorly constrained, yet they strongly impact the formation and evolution of planets and the composition of circumplanetary disks. Aims. We investigate the resolved Balmer hydrogen emission-line profiles and their variability timescales in the ∼13 MJup, 30−45 Myr-old companion Delorme 1 (AB)b to derive constraints on the accretion mechanism at play. Methods. With VLT/UVES, we collected 31 new epochs of high-resolution optical (330–680 nm) spectra of the companion at R = 50 000, probing variability on timescales of hours to years. We study the companion’s H i emission line shape and flux variability and compare them to two proposed line origins: magnetospheric accretion funnel and localized accretion shock. Results. We detect H i Balmer lines from Hα up to H10 (6564–3799 Å), as well as the UV continuum excess – signs of ongoing accretion. All lines and UV excess are variable. The H i lines can be decomposed into two static components that vary only by their flux. The broader component in velocity correlates strongly with the UV excess, and its profile is qualitatively reproduced by magnetospheric accretion funnel models but clearly not by shock models. With strong relative variability, this broad component almost entirely explains the variability in the shape of the line profiles. The second, narrower component correlates less with the UV excess and is best reproduced by shock-emission models. Its strong absolute variability makes it responsible for most of the line flux variability. Overall, the lines have low relative flux variability on hourly timescales, but up to ∼100% on weekly timescales and beyond, a behavior similar to T Tauri stars. Conclusions. The properties of the broad component of the H i lines strongly support magnetospheric accretion. The narrow component could be due to an accretion shock as well as chromospheric activity. Higher-cadence observations could search for rotational modulations to constrain the object’s rotational period and the exact geometry of the accretion flow.
Context. Observations of helium emission lines from classical T Tauri stars at high resolution (Rλ > 10 000) offer great potential, showing distinct profile characteristics that help probe regions within the accretion geometry untapped by hydrogen lines. Parallel studies in the planetary-mass regime have not been explored. Aims. We investigate helium line emission from the nearby (47 pc), wide orbit (∼84 au), ∼13 MJup, accreting circumbinary companion Delorme 1 (AB)b and analyse the resolved profile characteristics to infer clues to line origin. Methods. We obtained high signal-to-noise spectra of the target over 33 exposures with VLT/UVES over near-ultraviolet to optical wavelengths at high resolution (Rλ ~ 50 000). We studied the helium line profiles in the spectra and compared them to helium emission recorded from both accreting and non-accreting young stellar objects. Results. We detected seven neutral helium (He I) lines λλ3890, 4027, 4473, 4923, 5017, 5877, 6680 at high confidence (> 5σ), with notable flux variation between epochs. The line profiles of He I λλ5877,4923,4473,4027 show clear asymmetry, with a narrow component at ∼0 kms−1 and a broad component redshifted by ∼15 kms−1. The accretion luminosity (1.3−0.7+1.6 × 10−5 L⊙) and mass accretion rate (0.7−0.4+0.9 × 10−8 MJup yr−1) obtained from median He I line luminosities using empirical scaling relations from stars are comparable but slightly higher than from the target’s ultraviolet excess emission. Conclusions. The protoplanet Delorme 1 (AB)b exhibits asymmetric He I lines similar to classical T Tauri stars, but with much smaller widths for the narrow and broad components. The triplet-singlet line ratio, a strong correlation with ultraviolet excess and the near-zero, redshifted velocities obtained for the narrow component suggest that it originates within the post-shock region, close to the planet surface. The persistent redshift of the broad component, its line width, and velocity correlation with the narrow component imply an origin within the shock structure, closer to the shock front. Emission seems to be dominated by accretion based on the obtained accretion luminosities, but a contribution from chromospheric activity may be present.
Context. Classical T Tauri stars are newly formed, low-mass stars, which may display both periodic and random variations in their brightness. These systems are surrounded by a circumstellar disk, from which material falls onto the stellar surface. The interaction between the star and the circumstellar disk is time dependent, leading to short- or long-term physical changes in the physical environment, and hence variability of the system. Aims. DR Tau is a highly variable young star. By compiling a large dataset with high-cadence photometric, and high-resolution spectroscopic observations, we aim to examine the short- and long-term variability of the system, and identify the underlying physical mechanisms. Methods. We combined multifilter ground-based optical, near-infrared, and space-based mid-infrared (Spitzer Space Telescope) monitoring observations from 2009, 2017, and 2021 with high-cadence optical Kepler K2 and TESS light curves. We complemented our photometric dataset with spectropolarimetric monitoring observations obtained with the CFHT/ESPaDOnS instrument in 2016, which provided high-resolution data at optical wavelengths. Results. Our results reveal that DR Tau exhibits stochastic photometric variability not only on daily, but also on hourly timescales, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 1.4 mag probably originating from accretion related variations. Our ground-based multifilter photometry shows that the shape of the light curves are similar at all wavelengths, although the amplitude of the variability decreases with increasing wavelength. This trend toward the infrared wavelengths suggests that part of the disk may be optically thick and invariable. In addition to this, the high-cadence Kepler and TESS data allowed us to carry out a detailed period analysis. The spectroscopic analysis showed that the H alpha line presents the most complex line profile with several components, but the significance of the components changes over time. This suggests the presence and variation of both accretion flow and wind. Broad and narrow components can be clearly distinguished in the He I and the Ca II lines, which suggests a contribution from both the accretion flow and the post-shock region. The CFHT/ESPaDOnS data suggest that the strength of the longitudinal magnetic field varies between 400 and 1800 G. Conclusions. DR Tau exhibits a high level of photometric and spectroscopic variability on both short and long timescales, which is caused by the combination of accretion, wind, stellar activity, and obscuration by circumstellar matter. Furthermore, the significance of the physical mechanisms that cause the observed variability changes over time.
Context. Hydrogen recombination lines such as Brγ are tracers of hot gas within the inner circumstellar disk of young stellar objects (YSOs). In the relatively cool innermost environment of T Tauri stars specifically, Brγ emission is closely associated with magnetically driven processes, such as magnetospheric accretion. Magnetospheric emission alone would arise from a relatively compact region that is located close to the co-rotation radius of the star-disk system. Since it was previously found that the Brγ emission region in these objects can be significantly more extended than this, it was speculated that Brγ emission may also originate from a larger structure, such as a magnetised disk wind. Aims. Our aim is to build upon the analysis presented in our previous work by attempting to match the observational data obtained with VLTI GRAVITY for RU Lup in 2021 with an expanded model. Specifically, we will determine if the inclusion of an additional disk wind as a Brγ emitter in the inner disk will be able to reproduce the trend of increasing sizes at higher velocities. In addition, we will investigate whether the additional component will alter the obtained photocentre shift profiles to be more consistent with the observational results. Methods. We make use of the MCFOST radiative transfer code to solve for Brγ line formation in the innermost disk of an RU Lup-like system. From the resulting images we compute synthetic interferometric observables in the form of the continuum-normalised line profiles, visibilities, and differential phases. Based on these computations, we first investigate how individual parameter variations in a pure magnetospheric accretion model and a pure parameteric disk wind model translate to changes in these derived quantities. Then we attempt to reproduce the RU Lup GRAVITY data with different parameter variants of magnetospheric accretion models, disk wind models, and combined hybrid models. Results. We demonstrate that magnetospheric accretion models and disk wind models on their own can emulate certain individual characteristics from the observational results, but individually fail to comprehensively reproduce the observational trends. Disk wind plus accretion hybrid models are in principle capable of explaining the variation in characteristic radii across the line and the corresponding flux ratios. While the model parameters of the hybrid models are mostly in good agreement with the known attributes of RU Lup, we find that our best-fitting models deviate in terms of rotational period and the size of the magnetosphere. The best-fitting hybrid model does not respect the co-rotation criterion, as the magnetospheric truncation radius is about 50% larger than the co-rotation radius. Conclusions. The deviation of the found magnetospheric size when assuming stable accretion with funnel flows indicates that the accretion process in RU Lup is more complex than what the analytical model of magnetospheric accretion suggests. The result implies that RU Lup could exist in a weak propeller regime of accretion, featuring ejection at the magnetospheric boundary. Alternatively, the omission of a large scale halo component from the treatment of the observational data may have lead to a significant overestimation of the emission region size.
This work is part of the BinaMIcS project, the aim of which is to understand the interaction between binarity and magnetism in close binary systems. All the studied spectroscopic binaries targeted by the BinaMIcS project encompass hot massive and intermediate-mass stars on the main sequence, as well as cool stars over a wide range of evolutionary stages. The present paper focuses on the binary system FK Aqr, which is composed of two early M dwarfs. Both stars are already known to be magnetically active based on their light curves and detected flare activity. In addition, the two components have large convective envelopes with masses just above the fully convective limit, making the system an ideal target for studying effect of binarity on stellar dynamos. We use spectropolarimetric observations obtained with ESPaDOnS at CFHT in September 2014. Mean Stokes I and V line profiles are extracted using the least-squares deconvolution (LSD) method. The radial velocities of the two components are measured from the LSD Stokes I profiles and are combined with interferometric measurements in order to constrain the orbital parameters of the system. The longitudinal magnetic fields Bl and chromospheric activity indicators are measured from the LSD mean line profiles. The rotational modulation of the Stokes V profiles is used to reconstruct the surface magnetic field structures of both stars via the Zeeman Doppler imaging (ZDI) inversion technique. Maps of the surface magnetic field structures of both components of FK Aqr are presented for the first time. Our study shows that both components host similar large-scale magnetic fields of moderate intensity (Bmean 0.25 kG); both are predominantly poloidal and feature a strong axisymmetric dipolar component. (abridged)
Context. Temporal variability in the photometric and spectroscopic properties of protoplanetary disks is common in young stellar objects. However, evidence pointing toward changes in their morphology over short timescales has only been found for a few sources, mainly due to a lack of high-cadence observations at high angular resolution. Understanding this type of variation could be important for our understanding of phenomena related to disk evolution. Aims. We study the morphological variability of the innermost circumstellar environment of HD 98922, focusing on its dust and gas content. Methods. Multi-epoch observations of HD 98922 at milliarcsecond resolution with VLTI/GRAVITY in the K-band at low (R = 20) and high (R = 4000) spectral resolution are combined with VLTI/PIONIER archival data covering a total time span of 11 yr. We interpret the interferometric visibilities and spectral energy distribution with geometrical models and through radiative transfer techniques using the code MCMax. We investigated high-spectral-resolution quantities (visibilities and differential phases) to obtain information on the properties of the HI Brackett-gamma (Br gamma)-line-emitting region. Results. Comparing observations taken with similar (u,v) plane coverage, we find that the squared visibilities do not vary significantly, whereas we find strong variability in the closure phases, suggesting temporal variations in the asymmetric brightness distribution associated to the disk. Our observations are best fitted by a model of a crescent-like asymmetric dust feature located at similar to 1 au and accounting for similar to 70 % of the near-infrared (NIR) emission. The feature has an almost constant magnitude and orbits the central star with a possible sub-Keplerian period of similar to 12 months, although a 9 month period is another, albeit less probable, solution. The radiative transfer models show that the emission originates from a small amount of carbon-rich (25%) silicates, or quantum-heated particles located in a low-density region. Among different possible scenarios, we favor hydrodynamical instabilities in the inner disk that can create a large vortex. The high spectral resolution differential phases in the Br gamma line show that the hot-gas compact component is offset from the star and in some cases is located between the star and the crescent feature. The scale of the emission does not favor magnetospheric accretion as a driving mechanism. The scenario of an asymmetric disk wind or a massive accreting substellar or planetary companion is discussed. Conclusions. With this unique observational data set for HD 98922, we reveal morphological variability in the innermost 2 au of its disk region. This property is possibly common to many other protoplanetary disks, but is not commonly observed due to a lack of high-cadence observation. It is therefore important to pursue this approach with other sources for which an extended dataset with PIONIER, GRAVITY, and possibly MATISSE is available.
Context. The region of protoplanetary disks closest to a star (within 1-2 au) is shaped by a number of different processes, from accretion of the disk material onto the central star to ejection in the form of winds and jets. Optical and near-IR emission lines are potentially good tracers of inner disk processes if very high spatial and/or spectral resolution are achieved. Aims. In this paper, we exploit the capabilities of the VLTI-GRAVITY near-IR interferometer to determine the location and kinematics of the hydrogen emission line Br gamma. Methods. We present VLTI-GRAVITY observations of the Br gamma line for a sample of 26 stars of intermediate mass (HAEBE), the largest sample so far analysed with near-IR interferometry. Results. The Br gamma line was detected in 17 objects. The emission is very compact (in most cases only marginally resolved), with a size of 10-30 R*(1-5 mas). About half of the total flux comes from even smaller regions, which are unresolved in our data. For eight objects, it was possible to determine the position angle (PA) of the line-emitting region, which is generally in agreement with that of the inner-dusty disk emitting the K-band continuum. The position-velocity pattern of the Br gamma line-emitting region of the sampled objects is roughly consistent with Keplerian rotation. The exception is HD 45677, which shows more extended emission and more complex kinematics. The most likely scenario for the Br gamma origin is that the emission comes from an MHD wind launched very close to the central star, in a region well within the dust sublimation radius. An origin in the bound gas layer at the disk surface cannot be ruled out, while accreting matter provides only a minor fraction of the total flux. Conclusions. These results show the potential of near-IR spectro-interferometry to study line emission in young stellar objects.
We report the results of a comprehensive study of the spectroscopic binary (SB2) system HD 34736 hosting two chemically peculiar (CP) late B-type stars. Using new and archival observational data, we characterize the system and its components, including their rotation and magnetic fields. Fitting of the radial velocities yields P-orb=83.(d)219(3) and e=0.8103(3). The primary component is a CP He-wk star with T-effA=13000 +/- 500 K and upsilon(e) sin i=75 +/- 3 km s(-1), while the secondary exhibits variability of Mg and Si lines, and has T-effB=11500 +/- 1000 K and upsilon(e)sin i=110-180 km s(-1). Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite and Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope photometry reveal clear variability of the primary component with a rotational period P-rotA=1.d2799885(11), which is lengthening at a rate of 1.26(6) s yr(-1). For the secondary, P-rotB=0.d5226938(5), reducing at a rate of -0.14(3) s yr(-1). The longitudinal component < Bz > of the primary's strongly asymmetric global magnetic field varies from -6 to +5 kG. Weak spectropolarimetric evidence of a magnetic field is found for the secondary star. The observed X-ray and radio emission of HD 34736 may equally be linked to a suspected T Tau-like companion or magnetospheric emission from the principal components. Given the presence of a possible third magnetically active body, one can propose that the magnetic characteristics of the protostellar environment may be connected to the formation of such systems.
This paper analyses spectropolarimetric observations of the classical T Tauri star (CTTS) GM Aurigae collected with SPIRou, the near-infrared spectropolarimeter at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, as part of the SLS and SPICE Large Programs. We report for the first time results on the large-scale magnetic field at the surface of GM Aur using Zeeman Doppler imaging. Its large-scale magnetic field energy is almost entirely stored in an axisymmetric poloidal field, which places GM Aur close to other CTTSs with similar internal structures. A dipole of about 730 G dominates the large-scale field topology, while higher order harmonics account for less than 30 per cent of the total magnetic energy. Overall, we find that the main difference between our three reconstructed maps (corresponding to sequential epochs) comes from the evolving tilt of the magnetic dipole, likely generated by non-stationary dynamo processes operating in this largely convective star rotating with a period of about 6 d. Finally, we report a $5.5\sigma$ detection of a signal in the activity-filtered radial velocity data of semi-amplitude 110 +/- 20m s(-1) at a period of $8.745\pm 0.009$ d. If attributed to a close-in planet in the inner accretion disc of GM Aur, it would imply that this planet candidate has a minimum mass of 1.10 +/- 0.30M(Jup) and orbits at a distance of 0.082 +/- 0.002 au.
Modeling the surface brightness distribution of stars is of prime importance to interpret observations. Nevertheless, this remains quite challenging for cool stars as it requires one to model the MHD turbulence that develops in their convective envelope. In Paper I, the effect of the Coriolis acceleration on the surface heat flux has been studied by means of hydrodynamic simulations. In this paper, we aim to investigate the additional effect of dynamo magnetic fields. We focus on an envelope thickness that is representative of either a $\sim0.35~M_\odot$ M dwarf, a young red giant star or a pre-main sequence star. We performed a parametric study using numerical MHD simulations of anelastic convection in thick rotating spherical shells. For each model, we computed the mean surface distribution of the heat flux, and examined the leading-order effect of the magnetic field on the obtained latitudinal luminosity profile. We identify three different regimes. Close to the onset of convection, while the first unstable modes tend to convey heat more efficiently near the equator, magnetic fields are shown to generally enhance the mean heat flux close to the polar regions (and the tangent cylinder). By progressively increasing the Rayleigh number, the development of a prograde equatorial jet was previously shown to make the equator darker when no magnetic field is taken into account. For moderate Rayleigh numbers, magnetic fields can instead inverse the mean pole-equator brightness contrast (which means going from a darker to a brighter equator when a dynamo sets in) and finally induce a similar regime to that found close to the onset of convection. For more turbulent models with larger Rayleigh numbers, magnetic fields alternatively tend to smooth out the brightness contrast. This general behavior is shown to be related to the quenching of the surface differential rotation by magnetic fields.
Aims: Our aim is to build upon the analysis presented in our previous work by attempting to match the observational data obtained with VLTI GRAVITY for RU Lup in 2021 with an expanded radiative transfer model of Brγ emission. Specifically, we will determine if the inclusion of an additional disk wind as a Brγ emitter in the inner disk will be able to reproduce the trend of increasing sizes at higher velocities, as well as the observed photocenter shifts. Methods: We make use of the MCFOST radiative transfer code to solve for Brγ line formation in the innermost disk of an RU Lupl-like system. From the resulting images we compute synthetic interferometric observables. We first investigate how individual parameter variations in a pure magnetospheric accretion model and a pure parameteric disk wind model translate to changes in these derived quantities. Then we attempt to reproduce the RU Lup GRAVITY data with different parameter variants of magnetospheric accretion models, disk wind models, and combined hybrid models. Results: We demonstrate that magnetospheric accretion models and disk wind models on their own can emulate certain individual characteristics from the observational results, but individually fail to comprehensively reproduce the observational trends. Disk wind plus accretion hybrid models are in principle capable of explaining the variation in characteristic radii across the line and the corresponding flux ratios. While the model parameters of the hybrid models are mostly in good agreement with the known attributes of RU Lup, we find that our best-fitting models deviate in terms of rotational period and the size of the magnetosphere. The best-fitting hybrid model does not respect the co-rotation criterion, as the magnetospheric truncation radius is about 50 larger than the co-rotation radius.
Context. Both the stellar activity and the accretion processes of young stellar objects can induce variations in their radial velocity (RV). This variation is often modulated on the stellar rotation period and may hide a RV signal from a planetary or even a stellar companion. Aims. The aim of this study is to detect the companion of HQ Tau, the existence of which is suspected based on our previous study of this object. We also aim to derive the orbital elements of the system. Methods. We used multi-variate Gaussian process regression on the RV and the bisector inverse slope of a six-month high-resolution spectroscopic follow-up observation of the system to model the stellar activity. This allowed us to extract the Keplerian RV modulation induced by the suspected companion. Results. Our analysis yields the detection of a ∼50 Mjup brown dwarf companion orbiting HQ Tau with a ∼126 day orbital period. Although this is consistent with the modulation seen on this dataset, it does not fit the measurements from our previous work three years earlier. In order to include these measurements in our analysis, we hypothesise the presence of a third component with orbital elements that are consistent with those of the secondary according to our previous analysis (MB ∼ 48 Mjup, Porb, B ∼ 126 days), and a ∼465 Mjup tertiary with a ∼767 day orbital period. However, the hypothesis of a single companion with MB ∼ 188 Mjup and Porb ∼ 247 days can fit both datasets and cannot be completely excluded at this stage of the analysis. Conclusions. At minima, HQ Tau is a single-lined spectroscopic binary, and several factors indicate that the companion is a brown dwarf and that a third component is responsible for larger RV variation on a longer timescale.
Context. The dust- and gas-rich protoplanetary disks around young stellar systems play a key role in star and planet formation. While considerable progress has recently been made in probing these disks on large scales of a few tens of astronomical units (au), the central au requires further investigation. Aims.We aim to unveil the physical processes at play in the innermost regions of the strongly accreting T Tauri Star S CrA N by means of near-infrared interferometric observations. As recent spectropolarimetric observations suggest that S CrA N might undergo intense ejection processes, we focus on the accretion-ejection phenomena and on the star-disk interaction region. Methods. We obtained interferometric observations with VLTI/GRAVITY in the K-band during two consecutive nights in August 2022. The analysis of the continuum emission, coupled with the differential analysis across the Br gamma line, allows us to constrain the morphology of the dust and the gas distribution in the innermost regions of S CrA N and to investigate their temporal variability. These observations are compared to magnetospheric accretion-ejection models of T Tauri stars and to previous observations in order to elucidate the physical processes operating in these regions. Results. The K-band continuum emission is well reproduced with an azimuthally modulated dusty ring with a half-light radius of 0.24 au (similar to 20 R*), an inclination of similar to 30 degrees, and a position angle of similar to 150 degrees. As the star alone cannot explain such a large sublimation front, we propose that magnetospheric accretion is an important dust-heating mechanism leading to this continuum emission. The Br gamma-emitting region (0.05-0.06 au; 5-7 R*) is found to be more compact than the continuum, to be similar in size or larger than the magnetospheric truncation radius. The on-sky displacements across the Br gamma spectral channels are aligned along a position angle offset by 45 degrees from the disk, and extend up to 2 R*. This is in agreement with radiative transfer models combining magnetospheric accretion and disk winds. These on-sky displacements remain unchanged from one night to another, while the line flux decreases by 13%, suggesting a dominant contribution of wind to the origin of the Br gamma line. Conclusions. Our observations support the scenario where the Br gamma line originates from a combination of (variable) accretion-ejection processes in the inner disk region.
One manifestation of dynamo action on the Sun is the 22-yr magnetic cycle, exhibiting a polarity reversal and a periodic conversion between poloidal and toroidal fields. For M dwarfs, several authors claim evidence of activity cycles from photometry and analyses of spectroscopic indices, but no clear polarity reversal has been identified from spectropolarimetric observations. Our aim is to monitor the evolution of the large-scale field of AD Leo, which has shown hints of a secular evolution from past dedicated spectropolarimetric campaigns. We analysed near-infrared spectropolarimetric observations of the active M dwarf AD Leo taken with SPIRou between 2019 and 2020 and archival optical data collected with ESPaDOnS and Narval between 2006 and 2019. We searched for long-term variability in the longitudinal field, the width of unpolarised Stokes profiles, the unsigned magnetic flux derived from Zeeman broadening, and the geometry of the large-scale magnetic field using both Zeeman-Doppler Imaging and Principal Component Analysis. We found evidence of a long-term evolution of the magnetic field, featuring a decrease in axisymmetry (from 99% to 60%). This is accompanied by a weakening of the longitudinal field (-300 to -50 G) and a correlated increase in the unsigned magnetic flux (2.8 to 3.6 kG). Likewise, the width of the mean profile computed with selected near-infrared lines manifests a long-term evolution corresponding to field strength changes over the full time series, but does not exhibit modulation with the stellar rotation of AD Leo in individual epochs. The large-scale magnetic field of AD Leo manifested first hints of a polarity reversal in late 2020 in the form of a substantially increased dipole obliquity, while the topology remained predominantly poloidal and dipolar. This suggests that low-mass M dwarfs with a dipole-dominated magnetic field can undergo magnetic cycles.
Veiling is ubiquitous at different wavelength ranges in accreting stars. However, the origin of the veiling in the IR domain is not well understood. The accretion spot alone is not enough to explain the shallow photospheric IR lines in accreting systems, suggesting that another source is contributing to the veiling in the NIR. The inner disk is often quoted as the additional emitting source meant to explain the IR veiling. In this work, we aim to measure and discuss the NIR veiling to understand its origins and variability timescale, using a sample of 14 accreting stars observed with the CFHT/SPIRou spectrograph, within the framework of the SPIRou Legacy Survey. We compared the veiling measurements with accretion and inner disk diagnostics. The measured veiling grows from the Y to the K band for most of the targets in our sample. The IR veiling agrees with NIR emission excess obtained using photometric data. However, we also find a linear correlation between the veiling and the accretion properties of the system, showing that accretion contributes to the inner disk heating and, consequently, to the inner disk emission excess. We also show a connection between the NIR veiling and the system's inclination with respect to our line of sight. This is probably due to the reduction of the visible part of the inner disk edge, where the NIR emission excess is expected to arise, as the inclination of the system increases. The NIR veiling appears variable on a timescale of a day, showing the night-by-night dynamics of the optical veiling variability. In the long term, the mean NIR veiling seems to be stable for most of the targets on timescales of a month to a few years. However, during occasional episodes of high accretion, which affect the system's dynamic, the veiling also seems to be much more prominent at such times, as we found in the case of the target RU Lup.
Magnetic fields are extremely rare in close, hot binaries, with only 1.5 per cent of such systems known to contain a magnetic star. The eccentric & epsilon; Lupi system stands out in this population as the only close binary in which both stars are known to be magnetic. We report the discovery of strong variable radio emission from & epsilon; Lupi using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) and the MeerKAT radio telescope. The light curve exhibits striking unique characteristics including sharp high-amplitude pulses that repeat with the orbital period, with the brightest enhancement occurring near periastron. The characteristics of the light curve point to variable levels of magnetic reconnection throughout the orbital cycle, making & epsilon; Lupi the first known high-mass, main sequence binary embedded in an interacting magnetosphere. We also present a previously unreported enhancement in the X-ray light curve obtained from archival XMM-Newton data. The stability of the components' fossil magnetic fields, the firm characterization of their relatively simple configurations, and the short orbital period of the system make & epsilon; Lupi an ideal target to study the physics of magnetospheric interactions. This system may thus help us to illuminate the exotic plasma physics of other magnetically interacting systems such as moon-planet, planet-star, and star-star systems including T Tauri binaries, RS CVn systems, and neutron star binaries.
Misalignments between a forming star's rotation axis and its outer disk axis, although not predicted by standard theories of stellar formation, have been observed in several classical T Tauri stars (cTTs). The low-mass cTTs DK Tau is suspected of being among them. It is also an excellent subject to investigate the interaction between stellar magnetic fields and material accreting from the circumstellar disk, as it presents clear signatures of accretion. The goal of this paper is to study DK Tau's average line-of-sight magnetic field (Blos) in both photospheric absorption lines and emission lines linked to accretion, using spectropolarimetric observations, as well as to examine inconsistencies regarding its rotation axis. We used data collected with the ESPaDOnS and NARVAL spectropolarimeters, probing two distinct epochs (2010 and 2012). We first determined the stellar parameters, such as effective temperature and v sin i. Next, we removed the effect of veiling from the spectra, then obtained least-squares deconvolution profiles of the absorption lines, before determining the Blos. We also investigated emission lines, the 587.6 nm HeI line and the CaII infrared triplet, as tracers of the magnetic fields present in the accretion shocks. We find that DK Tau experiences accretion onto a magnetic pole at an angle of about 30 degrees from the pole of its rotation axis, with a positive field at the base of the accretion funnels. In 2010 we find a magnetic field of up to 1.77kG, and in 2012 up to 1.99kG. Additionally, using our derived values of period, v sin i and stellar radius, we find a value of 58 degrees (+18)(-11) for the inclination of the stellar rotation axis, which is significantly different from the outer disk axis inclination of 21 degrees given in the literature. We find that DK Tau's outer disk axis is likely misaligned compared to its rotation axis by 37 degrees.
Aims: We aim to spatially and spectrally resolve the Br-gamma hydrogen emission line with the methods of interferometry in order to examine the kinematics of the hydrogen gas emission region in the inner accretion disk of a sample of solar-like young stellar objects. The goal is to identify trends and categories among the sources of our sample and to discuss whether or not they can be tied to different origin mechanisms associated with Br-gamma emission in T Tauri stars, chiefly and most prominently magnetospheric accretion. Methods: We observed a sample of seven T Tauri stars for the first time with VLTI GRAVITY, recording spectra and spectrally dispersed interferometric quantities across the Br-gamma line in the NIR K-band. We use them to extract the size of the Br-gamma emission region and the photocenter shifts. To assist in the interpretation, we also make use of radiative transfer models of magnetospheric accretion to establish a baseline of expected interferometric signatures if accretion is the primary driver of Br-gamma emission. Results: From among our sample, we find that five of the seven T~Tauri stars show an emission region with a half-flux radius in the range broadly expected for magnetospheric truncation. Two of the five objects also show Br-gamma emission primarily originating from within the corotation radius, while two other objects exhibit extended emission on a scale beyond 10 R$_*$, one of them even beyond the K~band continuum half-flux radius of 11.3 R$_*$. Conclusions: We find strong evidence to suggest that for the two weakest accretors in the sample, magnetospheric accretion is the primary driver of Br-gamma radiation. The results for the remaining sources imply either partial or strong contributions coming from spatially extended emission components in the form of outflows, such as stellar or disk winds.