TY - JOUR
T1 - GSC 07396-00759 = V4046 Sgr C[D]: A Wide-separation Companion to the Close T Tauri Binary System V4046 Sgr AB
AU - Kastner, J. H.
AU - Sacco, G. G.
AU - Montez, R.
AU - Huenemoerder, D. P.
AU - Shi, H.
AU - Alecian, E.
AU - Argiroffi, C.
AU - Audard, M.
AU - Bouvier, J.
AU - Damiani, F.
AU - Donati, J. -F.
AU - Gregory, S. G.
AU - Güdel, M.
AU - Hussain, G. A. J.
AU - Maggio, A.
AU - Montmerle, T.
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - We explore the possibility that GSC 07396-00759 (spectral type M1e) is a widely separated (~2farcm82, or projected separation ~12,350 AU) companion to the "old" (age ~12 Myr) classical T Tauri binary system V4046 Sgr AB, as suggested by the proximity and similar space motions of the two systems. If the two systems are equidistant and coeval, then GSC 07396-00759, like V4046 Sgr AB, must be a spectroscopic binary with nearly equal-mass components, and V4046 Sgr must be at least ~8 Myr old. Analysis of a serendipitous Chandra X-ray grating spectrum and light curve as well as XMM-Newton light curves and CCD spectra of GSC 07396-00759 obtained during long exposures targeting V4046 Sgr AB reveals a relatively hard (TX ~ 107 K) X-ray spectrum, strong flaring, and relatively low-density plasma. These X-ray characteristics of GCS 07396-00759 are indicative of a high level of coronal activity, consistent with its apparent weak-lined T Tauri star status. Interactions between V4046 Sgr AB and GCS 07396-00759 when the two systems were more closely bound may be responsible for (1) their dissolution ~106 yr ago, (2) the present tight, circular orbit of V4046 Sgr AB, and (3) the persistence of the gaseous circumbinary disk still orbiting V4046 Sgr AB.
AB - We explore the possibility that GSC 07396-00759 (spectral type M1e) is a widely separated (~2farcm82, or projected separation ~12,350 AU) companion to the "old" (age ~12 Myr) classical T Tauri binary system V4046 Sgr AB, as suggested by the proximity and similar space motions of the two systems. If the two systems are equidistant and coeval, then GSC 07396-00759, like V4046 Sgr AB, must be a spectroscopic binary with nearly equal-mass components, and V4046 Sgr must be at least ~8 Myr old. Analysis of a serendipitous Chandra X-ray grating spectrum and light curve as well as XMM-Newton light curves and CCD spectra of GSC 07396-00759 obtained during long exposures targeting V4046 Sgr AB reveals a relatively hard (TX ~ 107 K) X-ray spectrum, strong flaring, and relatively low-density plasma. These X-ray characteristics of GCS 07396-00759 are indicative of a high level of coronal activity, consistent with its apparent weak-lined T Tauri star status. Interactions between V4046 Sgr AB and GCS 07396-00759 when the two systems were more closely bound may be responsible for (1) their dissolution ~106 yr ago, (2) the present tight, circular orbit of V4046 Sgr AB, and (3) the persistence of the gaseous circumbinary disk still orbiting V4046 Sgr AB.
KW - binaries: close
KW - circumstellar matter
KW - protoplanetary disks
UR - https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011ApJ...740L..17K/abstract
U2 - 10.1088/2041-8205/740/1/L17
DO - 10.1088/2041-8205/740/1/L17
M3 - Article
SN - 2041-8205
VL - 740
JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters
JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters
IS - 1
M1 - L17
ER -