Diamonds in HD 97048

Abstract

We present adaptive optics high angular resolution ($\sim0\farcs$1) spectroscopic observations in the 3 $μ$m region of the Herbig Ae/Be star HD 97048. For the first time, we spatially resolve the emission in the diamond features at 3.43 and 3.53 $μ$m and in the adjacent continuum. Using both the intensity profiles along the slit and reconstructed two-dimensional images of the object, we derive full-width at half-maximum sizes consistent with the predictions for a circumstellar disk seen pole-on. The diamond emission originates in the inner region ($R \lesssim 15$ AU) of the disk.

ApJLetter, in press