EPoS Contribution
EPoS Contribution
Effects of radiative heating on circumstellar discs determined from 3D radiation hydrodynamics simulations

David Acreman
University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
We present results from modelling a circumstellar disc using the new radiation hydrodynamics code SPH-Torus. The code combines Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics with Monte-Carlo radiative transfer, which provides a flexible framework for modelling radiation hydrodynamics in arbitrary geometries. The use of Monte-Carlo radiative transfer allows shadowing phenomena to be represented more realistically than if radiative transfer were calculated using only a diffusion approximation. The code is used to model a circumstellar disc around a T-Tauri star. As the model disc adjusts towards equilibrium a series of decaying scale height fluctuations are seen. These fluctuations intercept radiation from the central star and vertical transfer of radiation allows heated regions, associated with scale height enhancements, to increase the mid-plane temperature of the disc. The addition of self-gravity to the model will generate structure which will allow further study of shadowing effects.
Caption: A plot of internal energy in the model disc. SPH particles are plotted in cylindrical polar co-ordinates, with unequal r and z axes to emphasize scale height fluctuations. Scale height fluctuations intercept radiation from the central star and affect the midplane temperature due to vertical transport of radiation.
Collaborators:
T. J. Harries, Exeter, UK
D. A. Rundle, Exeter, UK
Key publication

Suggested Session: Early Phases of Disks