Observations of rapid line profile variability in the spectra of T Tauri stars
Abstract
Observation of six T Tauri stars, having a spectral resolution of 240,000 and temporal resolutions in the 300-900 sec range, are presented. In addition to presenting evidence for the existence of rapid line profile variability in the spectrum of RW Aurigae, this object's line spectrum properties in the vicinity of the H-alpha, H-gamma, and Na D lines are discussed in view of three high-quality spectra, with the result that photospheric absorption features are identified and a rotational velocity of about 25 km/sec is tentatively estimated. The data set acquired for RW Aur also reveals the existence of mass motions with antiparallel velocity components in the line-emitting region of the object. A spectral type for this previously unclassified T Tauri star of K1 + or - 2 subclasses is determined.