Spatial distribution of the gas inside the Beta Pic disk
Abstract
The gas and dust disk surrounding Beta Pictoris gives clues to the understanding of the late stages of planetary formation. However many aspects of its dynamics remain mysterious. With a pilot program in Cycle 5 {ID 5881}, we demonstrated the feasibility of a new observational technique aimed at mapping the distribution of gas within the disk through the faint fluorescence emission lines with the spectrograph slit placed off the star. This previous program led to the detection of Fe II emission lines, providing original and new information on the dynamics, density and distribution of gas within the disk {Lecavelier et al. 2000}. A tentative detection of SI is also to be confirmed. Here we propose new STIS observations of the two sides of the disk to confirm these detections and to substantially improve our knowledge of the gas properties. The echelle grating will be used to measure the faint emission lines formed by resonant scattering of the star light by Fe II, ZnII and CrII in the disk. The absorption of dust scattered light by SI and CI due to gas at larger distances will also be investigated.
- Publication:
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HST Proposal
- Pub Date:
- July 2001
- Bibcode:
- 2001hst..prop.9154L