Mid-infrared interferometric variability of DG Tau:
implications for the inner-disk structure
Varga József
MTA CSFK CSI


DG Tau is a low-mass young star whose strongly accreting disk shows a variable 10 micron silicate feature, that may even turn temporarily from emission to absorption. Aiming to find its physical reason, we analysed multiepoch VLTI/MIDI interferometric observations. We found that the inner disk (r<3 au) exhibits a 10 micron absorption feature related to amorphous silicate grains, while the outer disk shows a variable crystalline feature in emission, similar in shape to the spectrum of comet Hale-Bopp. We propose that the mid-infrared variability is originated in the outer disk, where the mass of the dusty material above the disk plane may change with time, possibly due to turbulence in the disk.