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Abstract

We observed the classical T Tauri star TW Hya with \textit{HST}/STIS using the E140M grating, from 1150--1700 \AA, with the E230M grating, from 2200--2900 \AA, and with \FUSE from 900--1180 \AA. Emission in 143 Lyman-band H$_2$ lines representing 19 progressions dominates the spectral region from 1250--1650 \AA. The total H$_2$ emission line flux is $1.94 \times 10^{-12}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, which corresponds to $1.90\times10^{-4}$ $L_\odot$ at TW Hya's distance of 56 pc. A broad stellar \Lya line photoexcites the H$_2$ from excited rovibrational levels of the ground electronic state to excited electronic states. The \ion{C}{2} 1335 \AA doublet, \ion{C}{3} 1175 \AA\ multiplet, and \ion{C}{4} 1550 \AA doublet also electronically excite H$_2$. The velocity shift of the H$_2$ lines is consistent with the photospheric radial velocity of TW Hya, and the emission is not spatially extended beyond the $0\farcs05$ resolution of \textit{HST}. The H$_2$ lines have an intrinsic FWHM of $11.91\pm0.16$ \kms. One H$_2$ line is significantly weaker than predicted by this model because of \ion{C}{2} wind absorption. We also do not observe any H$_2$ absorption against the stellar \Lya profile. From these results, we conclude that the H$_2$ emission is more consistent with an origin in a disk rather than in an outflow or circumstellar shell. We also analyze the hot accretion-region lines (e.g., \ion{C}{4}, \ion{Si}{4}, \ion{O}{6}) of TW Hya, which are formed at the accretion shock, and discuss some reasons why Si lines appear significantly weaker than other TR region lines.

The Far‐Ultraviolet Spectrum of TW Hydrae. I. Observations of H₂Fluorescence

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