• G. Weigelt
  • V. P. Grinin
  • J. H. Groh
  • K. H. Hofmann
  • S. Kraus
  • A. S. Miroshnichenko
  • D. Schertl
  • L. V. Tambovtseva
  • M. Benisty
  • T. Driebe
  • S. Lagarde
  • F. Malbet
  • A. Meilland
  • R. Petrov
  • E. Tatulli

Context. Circumstellar disks and outflows play a fundamental role in star formation. Infrared spectro-interferometry allows the inner accretion-ejection region to be resolved. Aims. We study the disk and Brγ-emitting region of MWC 297 with high spatial and spectral resolution and compare our observations with disk-wind models. Methods. We measured interferometric visibilities, wavelength-differential phases, and closure phases of MWC 297 with a spectral resolution of 12 000. To interpret our MWC 297 observations, we employed disk-wind models. Results. The measured continuum visibilities confirm previous results that the continuum-emitting region of MWC 297 is remarkably compact. We derive a continuum ring-fit radius of ∼2.2 mas (∼0.56 AU at a distance of 250 pc), which is ~5.4 times smaller than the 3 AU dust sublimation radius expected for silicate grains (in the absence of radiation-shielding material). The strongly wavelength-dependent and asymmetric Brγ-emitting region is more extended (∼2.7 times) than the continuum-emitting region. At the center of the Brγ line, we derive a Gaussian fit radius of ∼6.3 mas HWHM (∼1.6 AU). To interpret the observations, we employ a magneto-centrifugally driven disk-wind model consisting of an accretion disk, which emits the observed continuum radiation, and a disk wind, which emits the Brγ line. The calculated wavelength-dependent model intensity distributions and Brγ line profiles are compared with the observations (i.e., K-band spectrum, visibilities, differential phases, and closure phases). The closest fitting model predicts a continuum-emitting disk with an inner radius of ∼0.3 AU and a disk wind ejection region with an inner radius of ∼0.5 AU (∼17.5 stellar radii). We obtain a disk-wind half-opening angle (the angle between the rotation axis and the innermost streamline of the disk wind) of ∼80°, which is larger than in T Tau models, and a disk inclination angle of ∼20° (i.e., almost pole-on). Conclusions. Our observations with a spectral resolution of 12 000 allow us to study the AU-scale environment of MWC 297 in ∼10 different spectral channels across the Brγ emission line. We show that the K-band flux, visibilities, and remarkably strong phases can be explained by the employed magneto-centrifugally driven disk wind model.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberA103
JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics
Volume527
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011

    Research areas

  • circumstellar matter, stars: individual: MWC 297, stars: pre-main sequence, stars: winds, outflows, techniques: interferometric, techniques: spectroscopic

    Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

ID: 87424727