Spitzer Space Telescope - Archive Research Proposal #20663


A Combined Spitzer IRAC/MIPS/IRS and XMM-Newton Survey of the Taurus
Molecular Cloud

Principal Investigator: Marc Audard
           Institution: Columbia University

Co-Investigators: 
Manuel Guedel, Paul Scherrer Institut                                 
Deborah Padgett, Spitzer Science Center                               
Sebastian Wolf, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy                    
Kevin Briggs, Paul Scherrer Institut                                  
Sergio Fajardo-Acosta, Spitzer Science Center                         
Adrian Glauser, Paul Scherrer Institut                                
Patrick Morris, Spitzer Science Center                                
Luisa Rebull, Spitzer Science Center                                  
Stephen Skinner, University of Colorado                               
Karl Stapelfedlt, Jet Propulsion Laboratory                           

Science Category: young stellar objects 
Dollars Approved: 80000.0 

Abstract:
We propose to mine the Spitzer IRS data archive to complement our
Spitzer IRAC/MIPS and XMM-Newton X-ray surveys of the Taurus Molecular
Cloud (TMC).  We will combine the Spitzer data with those obtained in
the X-ray regime with XMM-Newton.  Our goals are i) to reconstruct the
detailed spectral energy distributions of young stellar objects in
TMC.  Our disk models will provide a comprehensive description of the
circumstellar disks in young stars;  ii) to combine infrared dust and
gas modeling with X-ray spectroscopy.  We will derive estimates of the
total gas masses, of gas-to-dust ratios, and of disk surface
ionization;  iii) to determine the role of X-ray irradiation for
heating, ionization, and disk chemistry.  The Spitzer IRAC, MIPS, and
IRS data in combination with the XMM-Newton data provide a unique
opportunity to study in detail the structure and composition of
circumstellar disks and envelopes in stars from the deeply embedded
stage to the accretion-free stage of weak-lined T Tauri stars, and to
determine the role of X-rays in these systems.