The unique science of the Flying Saucer
The edge-on geometry of the "Flying Saucer" disk implies that one can do unique science (provided high spatial and spectral resolution). One can directly measure the vertical gas and dust properties, the location of emitting molecules, turbulence, and many other key physical and chemical properties. Please find a few simulations we have performed to show the unique scientific potential of this protoplanetary disk in the era of the powerful Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), Northern Millimeter Array (NOEMA), extended Very Large Array (eVLA), and the forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST):
1. Simulations of the CN N=2-1 rotational emission, assuming various disk physical and chemical parameters performed for the ALMA Cycle 3 observing period (2015).
2. The results of the ALMA Cycle 2 project 2013.1.00387.S as published by Dutrey et al. (2017). (a) Tomographycally reconstructed distribution (TRD) for CO J=2-1 (in Kelvin), with contours from 4 to 22 K by spacing of 2 K. (b) CS J=5-4 (Kelvin) TRD with contours from 4 to 12 K by spacing of 2 K. (c) CO TRD in false color with best model in black contours. (d) model at 0.5′′ or 60 au resolution, (e) at 0.3′′ or 36 au resolution and (f) at 0.1′′ (12 au) resolution, presented with the same color scale. Contours are in 4 K steps.