A Two-Dimensional Near-Infrared Speckle Imaging Survey of T Tauri Stars in Taurus and Ophiuchus

Abstract

We present the results of a magnitude limited (K≤8.5 mag) multiplicity survey of T Tauri stars in the two nearest star forming regions, Taurus-Auriga and Ophiuchus-Scorpius (D = 150 pc), observable from the northern hemisphere. Each of the 70 stars in the sample was imaged at 2.2 μm using two-dimensional speckle interferometry resulting in a survey sensitive to binary stars with separations ranging from 0.″09 to about 2″.5. The frequency of double stars with separation in this range is 46±8%. A division between the classical T Tauri stars and the weak-lined T Tauri stars shows no distinction. Furthermore, no difference is observed between the binary frequencies in the two star forming regions although the clouds have very different properties. Given the limited angular separation range that this survey is sensitive to, both the spectroscopic and wide binaries will be missed. The rate at which binaries are detected suggests that most, if not all, T Tauri stars have companions.