Project Description: This project is to investigate protoplanetary disks using optical and infrared spectroscopic data. Our primary goal for this project is to study accretion and jets from young stellar objects (YSOs) in very early stage of stellar evolution (ages ~0.5 – 2 million years). The disks around YSOs are site of planet formation, and disk dispersal time scale has important implication on giant planet formation. Our team is investigating accretion, outflow, and jet activities of YSOs in Class I and Class II stages. Class I YSOs have disks and infalling envelop which can be observed using infrared and radio data, while Class II objects are YSOs with disks, which can be observed in optical wavelengths.
We have obtained optical and infrared spectroscopic data using MMT/Hectospec, MMIRS, as well as LBT/LUCI in H and K band to obtain high resolution spectra of over 20 young stellar objects (YSOs) that are ~0.5 – 2 million years old. Our sample YSOs reside in Taurus and Orion star forming regions.
NASA Relevance: This internship opportunity is related to addressing origin of the solar system and planet formation. The database we will be using together with our ground-based observational data will include NASA's Spitzer, HST, and JWST.
Work Description: NASA Space Grant Intern will work with Dr. Kim (PI) and Dr. Itrich (postdoc) who have been carrying out this study. The student will help the team to work on data analysis, for example, plotting spectra, fitting model spectra to observed spectra, measure emission line luminosities (e.g., Balmer and Brackett lines) to study accretion activities. Using the line luminosities, we can estimate accretion luminosity and therefore accretion rates using an empirical relationship the team has been using. The student will work with the team to learn and measure velocity components of emission lines that trace jet, such as [Fe II] lines as well.
The team will have regular weekly meetings and students.
The student will have an option to work on imaging data of extended structure of YSOs if they would be interested.
We will also use publicly available archival data from Spitzer, HST, JWST and SDSS for certain targets.
Open or Reserved Project: Open, 2 positions available.