HIGH-CONTRAST IMAGING OF INTERMEDIATE-MASS GIANTS WITH LONG-TERM RADIAL VELOCITY TRENDS

• A radial velocity (RV) survey for intermediate-mass giants has been in operation for over a decade at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory (OAO). The OAO survey has revealed that some giants show long-term linear RV accelerations (RV trends), indicating the presence of outer companions. Direct-imaging observations can help clarify what objects generate these RV trends. We present the results of high-contrast imaging observations of six intermediate-mass giants with long-term RV trends using the Subaru Telescope and HiCIAO camera. We detected co-moving companions to gamma Hya B (0.61(-0.14)(+0.12)M(circle dot)), HD 5608 B (0.10 +/- 0.01M(circle dot)), and HD 109272 B (0.28 +/- 0.06M(circle dot)). For the remaining targets (iota Dra, 18 Del, and HD 14067), we exclude companions more massive than 30-60 M-Jup at projected separations of 1 ''-7 ''. We examine whether these directly imaged companions or unidentified long-period companions can account for the RV trends observed around the six giants. We find that the Kozai mechanism can explain the high eccentricity of the inner planets iota Dra b, HD 5608 b, and HD 14067 b.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

binaries: general

methods: observational

planetary systems

techniques: high angular resolution

techniques: radial velocities

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)