The HOSTS Survey for Exozodiacal Dust: Observational Results from the Complete Survey
Journal
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Ertel, S.
•
Defrère, D.
•
Hinz, P.
•
Mennesson, B.
•
Kennedy, G. M.
•
Danchi, W. C.
•
Gelino, C.
•
Hill, J. M.
•
Hoffmann, W. F.
•
Mazoyer, J.
•
Rieke, G.
•
Shannon, A.
•
Stapelfeldt, K.
•
Spalding, E.
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Stone, J. M.
•
Vaz, A.
•
Weinberger, A. J.
•
Willems, P.
•
Absil, O.
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Arbo, P.
•
Bailey, V. P.
•
Beichman, C.
•
Bryden, G.
•
Downey, E. C.
•
Durney, O.
•
•
Gaspar, A.
•
Grenz, P.
•
Haniff, C. A.
•
Leisenring, J. M.
•
Marion, L.
•
McMahon, T. J.
•
Millan-Gabet, R.
•
Montoya, M.
•
Morzinski, K. M.
•
Perera, S.
•
•
Pott, J. -U.
•
Power, J.
•
•
Roberge, A.
•
Serabyn, E.
•
Skemer, A. J.
•
Su, K. Y. L.
•
Vaitheeswaran, V.
•
Wyatt, M. C.
Abstract
The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) enables nulling interferometric observations across the N band (8 to 13 μm) to suppress a star's bright light and probe for faint circumstellar emission. We present and statistically analyze the results from the LBTI/Hunt for Observable Signatures of Terrestrial Systems survey for exozodiacal dust. By comparing our measurements to model predictions based on the solar zodiacal dust in the N band, we estimate a 1σ median sensitivity of 23 zodis times the solar system dust surface density in its habitable zone (HZ; 23 zodis) for early-type stars and 48 zodis for Sun-like stars, where 1 zodi is the surface density of HZ dust in the solar system. Of the 38 stars observed, 10 show significant excess. A clear correlation of our detections with the presence of cold dust in the systems was found, but none with the stellar spectral type or age. The majority of Sun-like stars have relatively low HZ dust levels (best-fit median: 3 zodis, 1σ upper limit: 9 zodis, 95% confidence: 27 zodis based on our N band measurements), while ∼20% are significantly more dusty. The solar system's HZ dust content is consistent with being typical. Our median HZ dust level would not be a major limitation to the direct imaging search for Earth-like exoplanets, but more precise constraints are still required, in particular to evaluate the impact of exozodiacal dust for the spectroscopic characterization of imaged exo-Earth candidates.
Volume
159
Issue
4
Start page
177
Issn Identifier
0004-6256
Ads BibCode
2020AJ....159..177E
Rights
open.access
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