A Mid-IR Study of the Disks & Envelopes of Pre-Main-Sequence, Intermediate-Mass Stars

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Telesco, Charles AST 96-18348 Dr. Telesco will carry out an observational study into the spatial and spectral properties of the environments of pre-main-sequence, intermediate mass stars. His study will utilize a new infrared imager/spectrometer (OSCIR), developed by the PI and colleagues, to trace in detail the spatial distributions of dust throughout the environments of Herbig Ae/Be stars (those pre-main- sequence stars with masses of 2 to 10 solar masses) to determine how much matter is in the form of circumstellar disks or stellar envelopes. Spectroscopy of silicate particles in the stellar environments may provide insight into the temperature history of the dust particles. By probing the environments of these intermediate mass stars in the infrared, and characterizing the properties of dust particles and the frequency of occurrence of circumstellar disks, Dr. Telesco's work will provide insight into the earliest stages of stellar evolution and, potentially, the formation of planetary systems. ***