Lyα Scattering Models Trace Accretion and Outflow Kinematics in T Tauri Systems*

T Tauri stars produce broad Ly alpha emission lines that contribute similar to 88% of the total UV flux incident on the inner circumstellar disks. Ly alpha photons are generated at the accretion shocks and in the protostellar chromospheres and must travel through accretion flows, winds, and jets, the protoplanetary disks, and the interstellar medium before reaching the observer. This trajectory produces asymmetric, double-peaked features that carry kinematic and opacity signatures of the disk environments. To understand the link between the evolution of Ly alpha emission lines and the disks themselves, we model HST-COS spectra from targets included in Data Release 3 of the Hubble UV Legacy Library of Young Stars as Essential Standards program. We find that resonant scattering in a simple spherical expanding shell is able to reproduce the high-velocity emission line wings, providing estimates of the average velocities within the bulk intervening H i. The model velocities are significantly correlated with the K-band veiling, indicating a turnover from Ly alpha profiles absorbed by outflowing winds to emission lines suppressed by accretion flows as the hot inner disk is depleted. Just 30% of targets in our sample have profiles with redshifted absorption from accretion flows, many of which have resolved dust gaps. At this stage, Ly alpha photons may no longer intersect with disk winds along the path to the observer. Our results point to a significant evolution of Ly alpha irradiation within the gas disks over time, which may lead to chemical differences that are observable with ALMA and JWST.

Automated summary

T Tauri stars produce Ly alpha emission lines that account for 88% of the total UV flux on inner circumstellar disks. The Ly alpha photons are generated at accretion shocks and protostellar chromospheres, and must travel through various environments before reaching the observer, resulting in asymmetric double-peaked features. By modeling HST-COS spectra, we find a correlation between model velocities and K-band veiling, indicating an evolution of Ly alpha irradiation in gas disks over time.