The structure and emission of the accretion shock in T Tauri stars. II. The ultraviolet-continuum emission

We compare accretion-shock models with optical and ultraviolet spectra of p re-main-sequence stars to (1) make the first determinations of accretion ra tes in intermediate-mass T Tauri stars from continuum emission and (2) deri ve improved estimates of accretion rates and extinctions for continuum T Ta uri stars. Our method extends the shock models developed by Calvet & Gullbr ing to enable comparisons with optical and archival International Ultraviol et Explorer ultraviolet spectra. We find good agreement between the observa tions and the model predictions, supporting the basic model of magnetospher ic accretion shocks as well as previous determinations of accretion rates a nd interstellar reddening for the low-mass T Tauri stars. The accretion rat es determined for the intermediate-mass T Tauri stars agree well with value s obtained through the other methods of Muzerolle and coworkers that use ne ar-infrared hydrogen line strengths.