Imaging protoplanets: observing transition disks with non-redundant masking

Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Sallum, Steph
•
Eisner, Josh
•
Close, Laird M.
•
Hinz, Philip M.
•
Follette, Katherine B.
•
Kratter, Kaitlin
•
Skemer, Andrew J.
•
Bailey, Vanessa P.
•
•
Defrere, Denis
•
Macintosh, Bruce A.
•
Males, Jared R.
•
Morzinski, Katie M.
•
•
Rodigas, Timothy J.
•
Spalding, Eckhart
•
Tuthill, Peter G.
•
Vaz, Amali
•
Weinberger, Alycia
•
DOI
Abstract
Transition disks, protoplanetary disks with inner clearings, are promising objects in which to directly image forming planets. The high contrast imaging technique of non-redundant masking is well posed to detect planetary mass companions at several to tens of AU in nearby transition disks. We present non-redundant masking observations of the T Cha and LkCa 15 transition disks, both of which host posited sub-stellar mass companions. However, due to a loss of information intrinsic to the technique, observations of extended sources (e.g. scattered light from disks) can be misinterpreted as moving companions. We discuss tests to distinguish between these two scenarios, with applications to the T Cha and LkCa 15 observations. We argue that a static, forward-scattering disk can explain the T Cha data, while LkCa 15 is best explained by multiple orbiting companions.
Coverage
Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V
All editors
Malbet, Fabien; Creech-Eakman, Michelle J.; Tuthill, Peter G.
Series
Volume
9907
Start page
99070D
Conferenece
Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V
Conferenece place
Edinburgh, UK
Conferenece date
26 June - 1 July, 2016
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0277-786X
Ads BibCode
2016SPIE.9907E..0DS
Rights
open.access
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