A search for H2 around pre-main-sequence stars

Abstract

We present the results of a search for pure rotational molecular hydrogen emission from two pre-main-sequence stars, AB Aur and CQ Tau. Observations were made using MICHELLE, the mid-IR echelle spectrometer at the UK Infrared Telescope. We found some evidence for emission in the J = 4 --> 2 line in AB Aur, but no J = 3 --> 1 line from either star. We derive upper limits on line flux which are significantly smaller than previous line flux estimates based on ISO observations. This suggests that the emission detected by ISO is extended on scales of at least 6 arcsec, and does not come from the disk as previously thought.