1. |
- Keppler, M., et al.
(author)
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Discovery of a planetary-mass companion within the gap of the transition disk around PDS 70
- 2018
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 617
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Young circumstellar disks are the birthplaces of planets. Their study is of prime interest to understand the physical and chemical conditions under which planet formation takes place. Only very few detections of planet candidates within these disks exist, and most of them are currently suspected to be disk features.Aims. In this context, the transition disk around the young star PDS 70 is of particular interest, due to its large gap identified in previous observations, indicative of ongoing planet formation. We aim to search for the presence of an embedded young planet and search for disk structures that may be the result of disk-planet interactions and other evolutionary processes.Methods. We analyse new and archival near-infrared images of the transition disk PDS 70 obtained with the VLT/SPHERE, VLT/NaCo, and Gemini/NICI instruments in polarimetric differential imaging and angular differential imaging modes.Results. We detect a point source within the gap of the disk at about 195 mas (similar to 22 au) projected separation. The detection is confirmed at five different epochs, in three filter bands and using different instruments. The astrometry results in an object of bound nature, with high significance. The comparison of the measured magnitudes and colours to evolutionary tracks suggests that the detection is a companion of planetary mass. The luminosity of the detected object is consistent with that of an L-type dwarf, but its IR colours are redder, possibly indicating the presence of warm surrounding material. Further, we confirm the detection of a large gap of similar to 54 au in size within the disk in our scattered light images, and detect a signal from an inner disk component. We find that its spatial extent is very likely smaller than similar to 17 au in radius, and its position angle is consistent with that of the outer disk. The images of the outer disk show evidence of a complex azimuthal brightness distribution which is different at different wavelengths and may in part be explained by Rayleigh scattering from very small grains.Conclusions. The detection of a young protoplanet within the gap of the transition disk around PDS 70 opens the door to a so far observationally unexplored parameter space of planetary formation and evolution. Future observations of this system at different wavelengths and continuing astrometry will allow us to test theoretical predictions regarding planet-disk interactions, planetary atmospheres, and evolutionary models.
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2. |
- Vigan, A., et al.
(author)
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The SPHERE infrared survey for exoplanets (SHINE) : III. The demographics of young giant exoplanets below 300 au with SPHERE
- 2021
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 651
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The SpHere INfrared Exoplanet (SHINE) project is a 500-star survey performed with SPHERE on the Very Large Telescope for the purpose of directly detecting new substellar companions and understanding their formation and early evolution. Here we present an initial statistical analysis for a subsample of 150 stars spanning spectral types from B to M that are representative of the full SHINE sample. Our goal is to constrain the frequency of substellar companions with masses between 1 and 75 MJup and semimajor axes between 5 and 300 au. For this purpose, we adopt detection limits as a function of angular separation from the survey data for all stars converted into mass and projected orbital separation using the BEX-COND-hot evolutionary tracks and known distance to each system. Based on the results obtained for each star and on the 13 detections in the sample, we use a Markov chain Monte Carlo tool to compare our observations to two different types of models. The first is a parametric model based on observational constraints, and the second type are numerical models that combine advanced core accretion and gravitational instability planet population synthesis. Using the parametric model, we show that the frequencies of systems with at least one substellar companion are 23.0−9.7+13.5, 5.8−2.8+4.7, and 12.6−7.1+12.9% for BA, FGK, and M stars, respectively. We also demonstrate that a planet-like formation pathway probably dominates the mass range from 1–75 MJup for companions around BA stars, while for M dwarfs, brown dwarf binaries dominate detections. In contrast, a combination of binary star-like and planet-like formation is required to best fit the observations for FGK stars. Using our population model and restricting our sample to FGK stars, we derive a frequency of 5.7−2.8+3.8%, consistent with predictions from the parametric model. More generally, the frequency values that we derive are in excellent agreement with values obtained in previous studies.
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3. |
- Langlois, M., et al.
(author)
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The SPHERE infrared survey for exoplanets (SHINE) : II. Observations, data reduction and analysis, detection performances, and initial results
- 2021
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 651
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. In recent decades, direct imaging has confirmed the existence of substellar companions (exoplanets or brown dwarfs) on wide orbits (>10 au) around their host stars. In striving to understand their formation and evolution mechanisms, in 2015 we initiated the SPHERE infrared survey for exoplanets (SHINE), a systematic direct imaging survey of young, nearby stars that is targeted at exploring their demographics.Aims. We aim to detect and characterize the population of giant planets and brown dwarfs beyond the snow line around young, nearby stars. Combined with the survey completeness, our observations offer the opportunity to constrain the statistical properties (occurrence, mass and orbital distributions, dependency on the stellar mass) of these young giant planets.Methods. In this study, we present the observing and data analysis strategy, the ranking process of the detected candidates, and the survey performances for a subsample of 150 stars that are representative of the full SHINE sample. Observations were conducted in a homogeneous way between February 2015 and February 2017 with the dedicated ground-based VLT/SPHERE instrument equipped with the IFS integral field spectrograph and the IRDIS dual-band imager, covering a spectral range between 0.9 and 2.3 μm. We used coronographic, angular, and spectral differential imaging techniques to achieve the best detection performances for this study, down to the planetary mass regime.Results. We processed, in a uniform manner, more than 300 SHINE observations and datasets to assess the survey typical sensitivity as a function of the host star and of the observing conditions. The median detection performance reached 5σ-contrasts of 13 mag at 200 mas and 14.2 mag at 800 mas with the IFS (YJ and YJH bands), and of 11.8 mag at 200 mas, 13.1 mag at 800 mas, and 15.8 mag at 3 as with IRDIS in H band, delivering one of the deepest sensitivity surveys thus far for young, nearby stars. A total of sixteen substellar companions were imaged in this first part of SHINE: seven brown dwarf companions and ten planetary-mass companions.These include two new discoveries, HIP 65426 b and HIP 64892 B, but not the planets around PDS70 that had not been originally selected for the SHINE core sample. A total of 1483 candidates were detected, mainly in the large field of view that characterizes IRDIS. The color-magnitude diagrams, low-resolution spectrum (when available with IFS), and follow-up observations enabled us to identify the nature (background contaminant or comoving companion) of about 86% of our subsample. The remaining cases are often connected to crowded-field follow-up observations that were missing. Finally, even though SHINE was not initially designed for disk searches, we imaged twelve circumstellar disks, including three new detections around the HIP 73145, HIP 86598, and HD 106906 systems.Conclusions. Nowadays, direct imaging provides a unique opportunity to probe the outer part of exoplanetary systems beyond 10 au to explore planetary architectures, as highlighted by the discoveries of: one new exoplanet, one new brown dwarf companion, and three new debris disks during this early phase of SHINE. It also offers the opportunity to explore and revisit the physical and orbital properties of these young, giant planets and brown dwarf companions (relative position, photometry, and low-resolution spectrum in near-infrared, predicted masses, and contrast in order to search for additional companions). Finally, these results highlight the importance of finalizing the SHINE systematic observation of about 500 young, nearby stars for a full exploration of their outer part to explore the demographics of young giant planets beyond 10 au and to identify the most interesting systems for the next generation of high-contrast imagers on very large and extremely large telescopes.
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4. |
- Cheetham, A., et al.
(author)
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Discovery of a brown dwarf companion to the star HIP 64892
- 2018
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 615
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the discovery of a bright, brown dwarf companion to the star HIP 64892, imaged with VLT/SPHERE during the SHINE exoplanet survey. The host is a B9.5V member of the Lower-Centaurus-Crux subgroup of the Scorpius Centaurus OB association. The measured angular separation of the companion (1.2705 +/- 0.0023) corresponds to a projected distance of 159 +/- 12AU. We observed the target with the dual-band imaging and long-slit spectroscopy modes of the IRDIS imager to obtain its spectral energy distribution (SED) and astrometry. In addition, we reprocessed archival NACO L-band data, from which we also recover the companion. Its SED is consistent with a young (<30 Myr), low surface gravity object with a spectral type of M9 gamma +/- 1. From comparison with the BT-Settl atmospheric models we estimate an effective temperature of T-eff = 2600 +/- 100 K, and comparison of the companion photometry to the COND evolutionary models yields a mass of similar to 29-37 M-J at the estimated age of 16(-7)(+15) Myr for the system. The star HIP 64892 is a rare example of an extreme-mass ratio system (q similar to 0.01) and will be useful for testing models relating to the formation and evolution of such low-mass objects.
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5. |
- Vigan, A., et al.
(author)
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First light of the VLT planet finder SPHERE I. Detection and characterization of the substellar companion GJ 758 B
- 2016
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 587
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- GJ 758 B is a brown dwarf companion to a nearby (15.76%) solar-type, metal-rich (M/H = +0.2 dex) main-sequence star (G9V) that was discovered with Subaru/HiCIAO in 2009. From previous studies, it has drawn attention as being the coldest (similar to 600 K) companion ever directly imaged around a neighboring star. We present new high-contrast data obtained during the commissioning of the SPHERE instrument at the Very Large Telescope (VLT). The data was obtained in Y-, J-, H-, and K-s-bands with the dual-band imaging (DBI) mode of IRDIS, thus providing a broad coverage of the full near-infrared (near-IR) range at higher contrast and better spectral sampling than previously reported. In this new set of high-quality data, we report the re-detection of the companion, as well as the first detection of a new candidate closer-in to the star. We use the new eight photometric points for an extended comparison of GJ 758 B with empirical objects and four families of atmospheric models. From comparison to empirical object, we estimate a T8 spectral type, but none of the comparison objects can accurately represent the observed near-IR fluxes of GJ 758 B. From comparison to atmospheric models, we attribute a T-eff = 600 +/- 100 K, but we find that no atmospheric model can adequately fit all the fluxes of GJ 758 B. The lack of exploration of metal enrichment in model grids appears as a major limitation that prevents an accurate estimation of the companion physical parameters. The photometry of the new candidate companion is broadly consistent with L-type objects, but a second epoch with improved photometry is necessary to clarify its status. The new astrometry of GJ 758 B shows a significant proper motion since the last epoch. We use this result to improve the determination of the orbital characteristics using two fitting approaches: Least-Squares Monte Carlo and Markov chain Monte Carlo. We confirm the high-eccentricity of the orbit (peak at 0.5), and find a most likely semi-major axis of 46.05 AU. We also use our imaging data, as well as archival radial velocity data, to reject the possibility that this is a false positive effect created by an unseen, closer-in, companion. Finally, we analyze the sensitivity of our data to additional closer-in companions and reject the possibility of other massive brown dwarf companions down to 4-5 AU.
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6. |
- Bonnefoy, M., et al.
(author)
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The GJ 504 system revisited Combining interferometric, radial velocity, and high contrast imaging data
- 2018
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 618
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. The G-type star GJ504A is known to host a 3-35 M-Jup companion whose temperature, mass, and projected separation all contribute to making it a test case for planet formation theories and atmospheric models of giant planets and light brown dwarfs. Aims. We aim at revisiting the system age, architecture, and companion physical and chemical properties using new complementary interferometric, radial-velocity, and high-contrast imaging data. Methods. We used the CHARA interferometer to measure GJ504A's angular diameter and obtained an estimation of its radius in combination with the HIPPARCOS parallax. The radius was compared to evolutionary tracks to infer a new independent age range for the system. We collected dual imaging data with IRDIS on VLT/SPHERE to sample the near-infrared (1.02-2.25 mu m) spectral energy distribution (SED) of the companion. The SED was compared to five independent grids of atmospheric models (petitCODE, Exo-REM, BT-SETTL, Morley et al., and ATMO) to infer the atmospheric parameters of GJ 504b and evaluate model-to-model systematic errors. In addition, we used a specific model grid exploring the effect of different C/O ratios. Contrast limits from 2011 to 2017 were combined with radial velocity data of the host star through the MESS2 tool to define upper limits on the mass of additional companions in the system from 0.01 to 100 au. We used an MCMC fitting tool to constrain the companion's orbital parameters based on the measured astrometry, and dedicated formation models to investigate its origin. Results. We report a radius of 1.35 +/- 0.04 R-circle dot for GJ504A. The radius yields isochronal ages of 21 +/- 2 Myr or 4.0 +/- 1.8 Gyr for the system and line-of-sight stellar rotation axis inclination of 162.4(-4.3)(+3.8) degrees or 18.6(-3.8)(+4.3) degrees. We re-detect the companion in the Y2, Y3, J3, H2, and K1 dual-band images. The complete 1-4 mu m SED shape of GJ504b is best reproduced by T8-T9.5 objects with intermediate ages (<= 1.5Gyr), and/or unusual dusty atmospheres and/or super-solar metallicities. All atmospheric models yield T-eff = 550 +/- 50 K for GJ504b and point toward a low surface gravity (3.5-4.0 dex). The accuracy on the metallicity value is limited by model-to-model systematics; it is not degenerate with the C/O ratio. We derive log L/L-circle dot = 6.15 +/- 0.15 dex for the companion from the empirical analysis and spectral synthesis. The luminosity and T-eff yield masses of M = 1.3(-0.3)(+0.6) M-Jup and M = 23(-9)(+10) M-Jup for the young and old age ranges, respectively. The semi-major axis (sma) is above 27.8 au and the eccentricity is lower than 0.55. The posterior on GJ 504b's orbital inclination suggests a misalignment with the rotation axis of GJ 504A. We exclude additional objects (90% prob.) more massive than 2.5 and 30 M-Jup with semi-major axes in the range 0.01-80 au for the young and old isochronal ages, respectively. Conclusions. The mass and semi-major axis of GJ 504b are marginally compatible with a formation by disk-instability if the system is 4 Gyr old. The companion is in the envelope of the population of planets synthesized with our core-accretion model. Additional deep imaging and spectroscopic data with SPHERE and JWST should help to confirm the possible spin-orbit misalignment and refine the estimates on the companion temperature, luminosity, and atmospheric composition.
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7. |
- Claudi, R., et al.
(author)
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SPHERE dynamical and spectroscopic characterization of HD142527B
- 2019
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 622
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims. HD142527 is one of the most frequently studied Herbig Ae/Be stars with a transitional disk that hosts a large cavity that is up to about 100 au in radius. For this reason, it has been included in the guaranteed time observation (GTO) SpHere INfrared survey for Exoplanets (SHINE) as part of the Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in order to search for low-mass companions that might explain the presence of the gap. SHINE is a large survey within about 600 young nearby stars are observed with SPHERE with the aim to constrain the occurrence and orbital properties of the giant planet population at large (>5 au) orbital separation around young stars. Methods. We used the IRDIFS observing mode of SPHERE (IRDIS short for infrared dual imaging and spectrograph plus IFS or integral field spectrograph) without any coronagraph in order to search for and characterize companions as close as 30 mas of the star. Furthermore, we present the first observations that ever used the sparse aperture mask (SAM) for SPHERE both in IRDIFS and IRDIFS_EXT modes. All the data were reduced using the dedicated SPHERE pipeline and dedicated algorithms that make use of the principal component analysis (PCA) and reference differential imaging (RDI) techniques. Results. We detect the accreting low-mass companion HD142527B at a separation of 73 mas (11.4 au) from the star. No other companions with mass greater than 10 M-J are visible in the field of view of IFS (similar to 100 au centered on the star) or in the IRDIS field of view (similar to 400 au centered on the star). Measurements from IFS, SAM IFS, and IRDIS suggest an M6 spectral type for HD142527B, with an uncertainty of one spectral subtype, compatible with an object of M = 0.11 +/- 0.06 M-circle dot and R = 0.15 +/- 0.07 R-circle dot. The determination of the mass remains a challenge using contemporary evolutionary models, as they do not account for the energy input due to accretion from infalling material. We consider that the spectral type of the secondary may also be earlier than the type we derived from IFS spectra. From dynamical considerations, we further constrain the mass to 0.26(-0.14)(+0.16) , which is consistent with both our spectroscopic analysis and the values reported in the literature. Following previous methods, the lower and upper dynamical mass values correspond to a spectral type between M2.5 and M5.5 for the companion. By fitting the astrometric points, we find the following orbital parameters: a period of P = 35 137 yr; an inclination of i = 121 130 degrees, a value of Omega = 124 135 degrees for the longitude of node, and an 68% confidence interval of similar to 18-57 au for the separation at periapsis. Eccentricity and time at periapsis passage exhibit two groups of values: similar to 0.2-0.45 and similar to 0.45-0.7 for e, and similar to 2015-2020 and similar to 2020-2022 for T-0. While these orbital parameters might at first suggest that HD142527B is not the companion responsible for the outer disk truncation, a previous hydrodynamical analysis of this system showed that they are compatible with a companion that is able to produce the large cavity and other observed features.
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8. |
- Desgrange, C., et al.
(author)
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In-depth direct imaging and spectroscopic characterization of the young Solar System analog HD 95086
- 2022
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 664
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. HD 95086 is a young nearby Solar System analog hosting a giant exoplanet orbiting at 57 au from the star between an inner and outer debris belt. The existence of additional planets has been suggested as the mechanism that maintains the broad cavity between the two belts.Aims. We present a dedicated monitoring of HD 95086 with the VLT/SPHERE instrument to refine the orbital and atmospheric properties of HD 95086 b, and to search for additional planets in this system.Methods. SPHERE observations, spread over ten epochs from 2015 to 2019 and including five new datasets, were used. Combined with archival observations, from VLT/NaCo (2012-2013) and Gemini/GPI (2013-2016), the extended set of astrometric measurements allowed us to refine the orbital properties of HD 95086 b. We also investigated the spectral properties and the presence of a circumplanetary disk around HD 95086 b by using the special fitting tool exploring the diversity of several atmospheric models. In addition, we improved our detection limits in order to search for a putative planet c via the K-Stacker algorithm.Results. We extracted for the first time the JH low-resolution spectrum of HD 95086 b by stacking the six best epochs, and confirm its very red spectral energy distribution. Combined with additional datasets from GPI and NaCo, our analysis indicates that this very red color can be explained by the presence of a circumplanetary disk around planet b, with a range of high-temperature solutions (1400–1600 K) and significant extinction (Av ≳ 10 mag), or by a super-solar metallicity atmosphere with lower temperatures (800–300 K), and small to medium amount of extinction (Av ≲ 10 mag). We do not find any robust candidates for planet c, but give updated constraints on its potential mass and location.
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9. |
- Maire, A. -L., et al.
(author)
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VLT/SPHERE astrometric confirmation and orbital analysis of the brown dwarf companion HR 2562 B
- 2018
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 615
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. A low-mass brown dwarf has recently been imaged around HR 2562 (HD 50571), a star hosting a debris disk resolved in the far infrared. Interestingly, the companion location is compatible with an orbit coplanar with the disk and interior to the debris belt. This feature makes the system a valuable laboratory to analyze the formation of substellar companions in a circumstellar disk and potential disk-companion dynamical interactions. Aims. We aim to further characterize the orbital motion of HR 2562 B and its interactions with the host star debris disk. Methods. We performed a monitoring of the system over similar to 10 months in 2016 and 2017 with the VLT/SPHERE exoplanet imager. Results. We confirm that the companion is comoving with the star and detect for the first time an orbital motion at high significance, with a current orbital motion projected in the plane of the sky of 25 mas (similar to 0.85 au) per year. No orbital curvature is seen in the measurements. An orbital fit of the SPHERE and literature astrometry of the companion without priors on the orbital plane clearly indicates that its orbit is (quasi-)coplanar with the disk. To further constrain the other orbital parameters, we used empirical laws for a companion chaotic zone validated by N-body simulations to test the orbital solutions that are compatible with the estimated disk cavity size. Non-zero eccentricities (>0.15) are allowed for orbital periods shorter than 100 yr, while only moderate eccentricities up to similar to 0.3 for orbital periods longer than 200 yr are compatible with the disk observations. A comparison of synthetic Herschel images to the real data does not allow us to constrain the upper eccentricity of the companion.
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10. |
- Rodet, L., et al.
(author)
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Dynamical masses of M-dwarf binaries in young moving groups I. The case of TWA22 and GJ2060
- 2018
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 618
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Evolutionary models are widely used to infer the mass of stars, brown dwarfs, and giant planets. Their predictions are thought to be less reliable at young ages (<200 Myr) and in the low-mass regime (< 1 M-circle dot). GJ 2060AB and TWA22AB are two rare astrometric M-dwarf binaries, respectively members of the AB Doradus (AB Dor) and Beta Pictoris (beta Pic) moving groups. As their dynamical mass can be measured to within a few years, they can be used to calibrate the evolutionary tracks and set new constraints on the age of young moving groups.Aims. We provide the first dynamical mass measurement of GJ 2060 and a refined measurement of the total mass of TWA22. We also characterize the atmospheric properties of the individual components of GJ 2060 that can be used as inputs to the evolutionary models.Methods. We used NaCo and SPHERE observations at VLT and archival Keck/NIRC2 data to complement the astrometric monitoring of the binaries. We combined the astrometry with new HARPS radial velocities (RVs) and FEROS RVs of GJ 2060. We used a Markov chain MonteCarlo (MCMC) module to estimate posteriors on the orbital parameters and dynamical masses of GJ 2060AB and TWA22AB from the astrometry and RVs. Complementary data obtained with the integral field spectrograph VLT /SINFONI were gathered to extract the individual near-infrared (1.1-2.5 mu m) medium-resolution (R similar to 1500 2000) spectra of GJ 2060A and B. We compared the spectra to those of known objects and to grids of BT-SETTL model spectra to infer the spectral type, bolometric luminosities, and temperatures of those objects.Results. We find a total mass of 0 : 18 +/- 0 : 02 M-circle dot for TWA22, which is in good agreement with model predictions at the age of the fi Pic moving group. We obtain a total mass of 1 : 09 +/- 0 : 10 M-circle dot for GJ 2060. We estimate a spectral type of M1 +/- 0.5, L/L-circle dot = -1.20 +/- 0.05 dex, and T-eff = 3700 +/- 100 K for GJ 2060 A. The B component is a M3 +/- 0 : 5 dwarf with L/L-circle dot = 1.63 +/- 0.05 dex and T-eff = 3400 +/- 100 K. The dynamical mass of GJ 2060AB is inconsistent with the most recent models predictions (BCAH15, PARSEC) for an AB Dor age in the range 50-150 Myr. It is 10%-20% (1-2 sigma, depending on the assumed age) above the model's predictions, corresponding to an underestimation of 0.10-0.20 M fi. Coevality suggests a young age for the system (similar to 50 Myr) according to most evolutionary models.Conclusions. TWA22 validates the predictions of recent evolutionary tracks at similar to 20 Myr. On the other hand, we evidence a 1-2 sigma mismatch between the predicted and observed mass of GJ 2060 AB. This slight departure may indicate that one of the stars hosts a tight companion. Alternatively, this would confirm the model's tendency to underestimate the mass of young low-mass stars.
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11. |
- Sissa, E., et al.
(author)
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New disk discovered with VLT/SPHERE around the M star GSC 07396-00759
- 2018
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 613
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Debris disks are usually detected through the infrared excess over the photospheric level of their host star. The most favorable stars for disk detection are those with spectral types between A and K, while the statistics for debris disks detected around low-mass M-type stars is very low, either because they are rare or because they are more difficult to detect. Terrestrial planets, on the other hand, may be common around M-type stars. Here, we report on the discovery of an extended (likely) debris disk around the M-dwarf GSC 07396-00759. The star is a wide companion of the close accreting binary V4046 Sgr. The system probably is a member of the beta Pictoris Moving Group. We resolve the disk in scattered light, exploiting high-contrast, high-resolution imagery with the two near-infrared subsystems of the VLT/SPHERE instrument, operating in the YJ bands and the H2H3 doublet. The disk is clearly detected up to 1.5 '' (similar to 110 au) from the star and appears as a ring, with an inclination i similar to 83 degrees, and a peak density position at similar to 70 au. The spatial extension of the disk suggests that the dust dynamics is affected by a strong stellar wind, showing similarities with the AU Mic system that has also been resolved with SPHERE. The images show faint asymmetric structures at the widest separation in the northwest side. We also set an upper limit for the presence of giant planets to 2 M-J. Finally, we note that the 2 resolved disks around M-type stars of 30 such stars observed with SPHERE are viewed close to edge-on, suggesting that a significant population of debris disks around M dwarfs could remain undetected because of an unfavorable orientation.
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12. |
- Zurlo, A., et al.
(author)
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Imaging radial velocity planets with SPHERE
- 2018
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 480:1, s. 35-48
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present observations with the planet finder Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) of a selected sample of the most promising radial velocity (RV) companions for high-contrast imaging. Using a Monte Carlo simulation to explore all the possible inclinations of the orbit of wide RV companions, we identified the systems with companions that could potentially be detected with SPHERE. We found the most favourable RV systems to observe are: HD 142, GJ 676, HD 39091, HIP 70849, and HD 30177 and carried out observations of these systems during SPHERE Guaranteed Time Observing. To reduce the intensity of the starlight and reveal faint companions, we used principal component analysis algorithms alongside angular and spectral differential imaging. We injected synthetic planets with known flux to evaluate the self-subtraction caused by our data reduction and to determine the 5 sigma contrast in the J band versus separation for our reduced images. We estimated the upper limit on detectable companion mass around the selected stars from the contrast plot obtained from our data reduction. Although our observations enabled contrasts larger than 15 mag at a few tenths of arcsec from the host stars, we detected no planets. However, we were able to set upper mass limits around the stars using AMES-COND evolutionary models. We can exclude the presence of companions more massive than 25-28M(Jup) around these stars, confirming the substellar nature of these RV companions.
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