Evidence for accretion: High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the classical T Tauri star TW Hydrae

We present high-resolution X-ray spectra of the X-ray-bright classical T Tauri star, TW Hydrae, covering the wavelength range of 1.5-25 Angstrom. The differential emission measure derived from fluxes of temperature-sensitive emission lines shows a plasma with a sharply peaked temperature distribution, peaking at log T = 6.5. Abundance anomalies are apparent, with iron very deficient relative to oxygen, while neon is enhanced relative to oxygen. Density-sensitive line ratios of Ne IX and O VII indicate densities near log n(e) = 13. A flare with rapid (similar to1 ks) rise time was detected during our 48 ks observation; however, based on analysis of the emission-line spectrum during quiescent and flaring states, the derived plasma parameters do not seem strongly time-dependent. The inferred plasma temperature distribution and densities are consistent with a model in which the bulk of the X-ray emission from TW Hya is generated via mass accretion from its circumstellar disk. Assuming that accretion powers the X-ray emission, our results for log n(e) suggest an accretion rate of similar to10(-8) M-. yr(-1).