The Many-Faceted Light Curves of Young Disk-bearing Stars in Taurus as Seen by K2

Abstract

We present a comprehensive study of the variability properties of young disk-bearing stars in the Taurus star-forming region, paralleling our previous investigation in rho Oph and Upper Sco. A sample of 99 confirmed Taurus association members is placed in the diagnostic Q-M plane of flux asymmetry (M) and quasi-periodicity (Q), which guides our assignment of variability classes. We find a similar proportion of flux-symmetric variables in Taurus, but more bursters and fewer dippers relative to Upper Sco. The regions also differ in that the amplitudes for periodic and quasi-periodic sources are larger in Taurus relative to the more evolved Upper Sco star/disk systems. The relationship between photometric variability patterns at optical wavelengths, which arise in the inner disk and at the stellar surface, are assessed relative to available disk inclination measurements.