HST/COS Spectra of DF Tau and V4046 SGR: First Detection of Molecular Hydrogen Absorption Against the Ly$α$ Emission Line

Abstract

We report the first detection of molecular hydrogen (H$_{2}$) absorption in the Lyman-$α$ emission line profiles of two classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs), DF Tau and V4046 Sgr, observed by \emph{HST}/COS. This absorption is the energy source for many of the Lyman-band H$_{2}$ fluorescent lines commonly seen in the far-ultraviolet spectra of CTTSs. We find that the absorbed energy in the H$_{2}$ pumping transitions from a portion of the Lyman-$α$ line significantly differ from the amount of energy in the resulting fluorescent emission. By assuming additional absorption in the H I Lyman-$α$ profile along our light of sight, we can correct the H$_{2}$ absorption/emission ratios so that they are close to unity. The required H I absorption for DF Tau is at a velocity close to the radial velocity of the star, consistent with H I absorption in the edge-on disk and interstellar medium. For V4046 Sgr, a nearly face-on system, the required absorption is between +100 km/s and +290 km/s, most likely resulting from H I gas in the accretion columns falling onto the star.

13 pages, 4 figures, accepted by ApJL in February 2011