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The Radial Distribution of H2 and CO in TW Hya as Revealed by Resolved ALMA Observations of CO Isotopologues

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abstract

CO is widely used as a tracer of molecular gas. However, there is now mounting evidence that gas phase carbon is depleted in the disk around TW Hya. Previous efforts to quantify this depletion have been hampered by uncertainties regarding the radial thermal structure in the disk. Here we present resolved ALMA observations of 13CO 3-2, C18O 3-2, 13CO 6-5, and C18O 6-5 emission in TW Hya, which allow us to derive radial gas temperature and gas surface density profiles, as well as map the CO abundance as a function of radius. These observations provide a measurement of the surface CO snowline at ~30 AU and show evidence for an outer ring of CO emission centered at 53 AU, a feature previously seen only in less abundant species. Further, the derived CO gas temperature profile constrains the freeze-out temperature of CO in the warm molecular layer to < 21 K. Combined with the previous detection of HD 1-0, these data constrain the surface density of the warm H2 gas in the inner ~30 AU. We find that CO is depleted by two orders of magnitude from R=10-60 AU, with the small amount of CO returning to the gas phase inside the surface CO snowline insufficient to explain the overall depletion. Finally, this new data is used in conjunction with previous modeling of the TW Hya disk to constrain the midplane CO snowline to 17-23 AU.

fields

astro-ph.EP 1

years

2026 1

verdicts

UNVERDICTED 1

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Substructures in Planet-Forming Disks with the SKAO

astro-ph.EP · 2026-06-24 · unverdicted · novelty 2.0

SKA-Mid Band 5b continuum observations at 12.5 GHz will resolve disk substructures at ~0.05 arcsec to investigate their origin and role in planet assembly.

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  • Substructures in Planet-Forming Disks with the SKAO astro-ph.EP · 2026-06-24 · unverdicted · none · ref 58 · internal anchor

    SKA-Mid Band 5b continuum observations at 12.5 GHz will resolve disk substructures at ~0.05 arcsec to investigate their origin and role in planet assembly.