Magnetospheric Accretion Models for the Hydrogen Emission Lines of T Tauri Stars

Using a statistical equilibrium radiative transfer treatment, we examine the behavior of hydrogen emission lines arising from the magnetospheric infall zones of classical T Tauri stars. Having calculated self-consistent line profiles of the Balmer lines, Paβ and Brγ, we explore parameter space, examining the effects of the magnetospheric gas temperature and size on the line fluxes. We compare model and observed line fluxes for the Balmer lines and find a good match using a relatively small range of parameters. We are also able to match the observed Brγ line profile of the embedded object WL 16, which supports the use of the infrared lines in studying magnetospheric infall even in the earliest stages of star formation. Finally, we discuss constraints on the physical parameters and the possibility of using the emission lines as accretion rate indicators.