DEVELOPMENT OF A METHOD FOR THE OBSERVATION OF LIGHTNING IN PROTOPLANETARY DISKS USING ION LINES
- RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science,7-1-26, Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047 (Japan)
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588 (Japan)
- Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 (Japan)
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan)
In this paper, we propose observational methods for detecting lightning in protoplanetary disks. We do so by calculating the critical electric field strength in the lightning matrix gas (LMG), the parts of the disk where the electric field is strong enough to cause lightning. That electric field accelerates multiple positive ion species to characteristic terminal velocities. In this paper, we present three distinct discharge models with corresponding critical electric fields. We simulate the position–velocity diagrams and the integrated emission maps for the models. We calculate the measure-of-sensitivity values for detection of the models and for distinguishing between the models. At the distance of TW Hya (54 pc), LMG that occupies 2π in azimuth and has 25 AU < r < 50 AU is detectable at 1200σ to 4000σ. The lower limits of the radii of 5σ-detectable LMG clumps are between 1.6 AU and 5.3 AU, depending on the models.
- OSTI ID:
- 22521768
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 815, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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