JWST Captures a Sudden Stellar Outburst and Inner Disk Wall Destruction

• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad90a1
• Publication Date: 2024-12-23T09:45:51Z
• Authors: Chengyan Xie; Ilaria Pascucci; Dingshan Deng; Naman S. Bajaj; Richard Alexander; Andrew Sellek; Ágnes Kóspál; Giulia Ballabio; Uma Gorti
• Keywords: Circumstellar disk; Debris disk

We present JWST/MIRI observations of T~Cha, a highly variable ($\Delta V \sim$3-5\,mag) accreting Sun-like star surrounded by disk with large ($\sim 15$\,au) dust gap. find that the JWST mid-infrared spectrum is signiticantly different from {\it Spitzer} obtained 17 years before, where emission at short wavelengths ($5-10 \mu m$) has decreased $\sim 2/3$ while longer ($15-25 it increased up to factor 3$. This 'seesaw' behavior contemporary fairly constant higher optical captured All Sky Automated Survey. By analyzing and modelling both SEDs, we propose caught during an outburst destructed asymmetric inner wall responsible for high variability lower $15-25$\,micron\ time. The mass lost this estimated be comparable 1/5$) upper limit total micron-sized in T~Cha now. Monitoring system possible future outbursts more its quiescent state will reveal if can replenished or continue depleted vanish.