An ALMA Dynamical Mass Estimate of the Proposed Planetary-mass Companion FW Tau C

Ya Lin Wu; Patrick D. Sheehan

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa8771

An ALMA Dynamical Mass Estimate of the Proposed Planetary-mass Companion FW Tau C

Ya Lin Wu, Patrick D. Sheehan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Dynamical mass estimates down to the planet-mass regime can help to understand planet formation. We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 1.3 mm observations of FW Tau C, a proposed ∼10 M_Jup planet-mass companion at ∼330 au from the host binary FW Tau AB. We spatially and spectrally resolve the accretion disk of FW Tau C in ¹²CO (2-1). By modeling the Keplerian rotation of gas, we derive a dynamical mass of ∼0.1 M_⊙. Therefore, FW Tau C is unlikely a planet, but rather a low-mass star with a highly inclined disk. This also suggests that FW Tau is a triple system consisting of three ∼0.1 M_⊙ stars.

Original language	English
Article number	L26
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	846
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa8771
Publication status	Published - 2017 Sept 10
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

accretion, accretion disks
planets and satellites: individual (FW Tau C)
stars: individual (FW Tau)
techniques: interferometric

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.3847/2041-8213/aa8771

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title = "An ALMA Dynamical Mass Estimate of the Proposed Planetary-mass Companion FW Tau C",

abstract = "Dynamical mass estimates down to the planet-mass regime can help to understand planet formation. We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 1.3 mm observations of FW Tau C, a proposed ∼10 MJup planet-mass companion at ∼330 au from the host binary FW Tau AB. We spatially and spectrally resolve the accretion disk of FW Tau C in 12CO (2-1). By modeling the Keplerian rotation of gas, we derive a dynamical mass of ∼0.1 M⊙. Therefore, FW Tau C is unlikely a planet, but rather a low-mass star with a highly inclined disk. This also suggests that FW Tau is a triple system consisting of three ∼0.1 M⊙ stars.",

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AU - Wu, Ya Lin

AU - Sheehan, Patrick D.

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N2 - Dynamical mass estimates down to the planet-mass regime can help to understand planet formation. We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 1.3 mm observations of FW Tau C, a proposed ∼10 MJup planet-mass companion at ∼330 au from the host binary FW Tau AB. We spatially and spectrally resolve the accretion disk of FW Tau C in 12CO (2-1). By modeling the Keplerian rotation of gas, we derive a dynamical mass of ∼0.1 M⊙. Therefore, FW Tau C is unlikely a planet, but rather a low-mass star with a highly inclined disk. This also suggests that FW Tau is a triple system consisting of three ∼0.1 M⊙ stars.

AB - Dynamical mass estimates down to the planet-mass regime can help to understand planet formation. We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 1.3 mm observations of FW Tau C, a proposed ∼10 MJup planet-mass companion at ∼330 au from the host binary FW Tau AB. We spatially and spectrally resolve the accretion disk of FW Tau C in 12CO (2-1). By modeling the Keplerian rotation of gas, we derive a dynamical mass of ∼0.1 M⊙. Therefore, FW Tau C is unlikely a planet, but rather a low-mass star with a highly inclined disk. This also suggests that FW Tau is a triple system consisting of three ∼0.1 M⊙ stars.

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KW - stars: individual (FW Tau)

KW - techniques: interferometric

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An ALMA Dynamical Mass Estimate of the Proposed Planetary-mass Companion FW Tau C

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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