Probing UV-Sensitive Pathways for CN and HCN Formation in Protoplanetary
  Disks with the Hubble Space Telescope
  The UV radiation field is a critical regulator of gas-phase chemistry in
surface layers of disks around young stars. In an effort to understand the
relationship between photocatalyzing UV radiation fields and gas emission
observed at infrared and sub-mm wavelengths, we present an analysis of new and
archival HST, Spitzer, ALMA, IRAM, and SMA data for five targets in the Lupus
cloud complex and 14 systems in Taurus-Auriga. The HST spectra were used to
measure LyA and FUV continuum fluxes reaching the disk surface, which are
responsible for dissociating relevant molecular species (e.g. HCN, N2).
Semi-forbidden C II] 2325 and UV-fluorescent H2 emission were also measured to
constrain inner disk populations of C+ and vibrationally excited H2. We find a
significant positive correlation between 14 micron HCN emission and fluxes from
the FUV continuum and C II] 2325, consistent with model predictions requiring
N2 photodissociation and carbon ionization to trigger the main CN/HCN formation
pathways. We also report significant negative correlations between sub-mm CN
emission and both C II] and FUV continuum fluxes, implying that CN is also more
readily dissociated in disks with stronger FUV irradiation. No clear
relationships are detected between either CN or HCN and LyA or UV-H2 emission.
This is attributed to the spatial stratification of the various molecular
species, which span several vertical layers and radii across the inner and
outer disk. We expect that future observations with JWST will build on this
work by enabling more sensitive IR surveys than were possible with Spitzer.
