251 research outputs found

    Subaru Imaging of Asymmetric Features in a Transitional Disk in Upper Scorpius

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    We report high-resolution (0.07 arcsec) near-infrared polarized intensity images of the circumstellar disk around the star 2MASS J16042165-2130284 obtained with HiCIAO mounted on the Subaru 8.2 m telescope. We present our HH-band data, which clearly exhibits a resolved, face-on disk with a large inner hole for the first time at infrared wavelengths. We detect the centrosymmetric polarization pattern in the circumstellar material as has been observed in other disks. Elliptical fitting gives the semimajor axis, semiminor axis, and position angle (P.A.) of the disk as 63 AU, 62 AU, and -14 ∘^{\circ}, respectively. The disk is asymmetric, with one dip located at P.A.s of ∼85∘\sim85^{\circ}. Our observed disk size agrees well with a previous study of dust and CO emission at submillimeter wavelength with Submillimeter Array. Hence, the near-infrared light is interpreted as scattered light reflected from the inner edge of the disk. Our observations also detect an elongated arc (50 AU) extending over the disk inner hole. It emanates at the inner edge of the western side of the disk, extending inward first, then curving to the northeast. We discuss the possibility that the inner hole, the dip, and the arc that we have observed may be related to the existence of unseen bodies within the disk.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures, published 2012 November 7 by ApJL, typo correcte

    SEEDS direct imaging of the RV-detected companion to V450 Andromedae, and characterization of the system

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    We report the direct imaging detection of a low-mass companion to a young, moderately active star V450 And, that was previously identified with the radial velocity method. The companion was found in high-contrast images obtained with the Subaru Telescope equipped with the HiCIAO camera and AO188 adaptive optics system. From the public ELODIE and SOPHIE archives we extracted available high-resolution spectra and radial velocity (RV) measurements, along with RVs from the Lick planet search program. We combined our multi-epoch astrometry with these archival, partially unpublished RVs, and found that the companion is a low-mass star, not a brown dwarf, as previously suggested. We found the best-fitting dynamical masses to be m1=1.141−0.091+0.037m_1=1.141_{-0.091}^{+0.037} and m2=0.279−0.020+0.023m_2=0.279^{+0.023}_{-0.020} M⊙_\odot. We also performed spectral analysis of the SOPHIE spectra with the iSpec code. The Hipparcos time-series photometry shows a periodicity of P=5.743P=5.743 d, which is also seen in SOPHIE spectra as an RV modulation of the star A. We interpret it as being caused by spots on the stellar surface, and the star to be rotating with the given period. From the rotation and level of activity, we found that the system is 380−100+220380^{+220}_{-100} Myr old, consistent with an isochrone analysis (220−90+2120220^{+2120}_{-90} Myr). This work may serve as a test case for future studies of low-mass stars, brown dwarfs and exoplanets by combination of RV and direct imaging data.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, 7 tables, to appear in Ap

    Orbital characterization of GJ1108A system, and comparison of dynamical mass with model-derived mass for resolved binaries

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    We report an orbital characterization of GJ1108Aab that is a low-mass binary system in pre-main-sequence phase. Via the combination of astrometry using adaptive optics and radial velocity measurements, an eccentric orbital solution of ee=0.63 is obtained, which might be induced by the Kozai-Lidov mechanism with a widely separated GJ1108B system. Combined with several observed properties, we confirm the system is indeed young. Columba is the most probable moving group, to which the GJ1108A system belongs, although its membership to the group has not been established. If the age of Columba is assumed for GJ1108A, the dynamical masses of both GJ1108Aa and GJ1108Ab (Mdynamical,GJ1108Aa=0.72±0.04M⊙M_{\rm dynamical,GJ1108Aa}=0.72\pm0.04 M_{\odot} and Mdynamical,GJ1108Ab=0.30±0.03M⊙M_{\rm dynamical,GJ1108Ab}=0.30\pm0.03 M_{\odot}) are more massive than what an evolutionary model predicts based on the age and luminosities. We consider the discrepancy in mass comparison can attribute to an age uncertainty; the system is likely older than stars in Columba, and effects that are not implemented in classical models such as accretion history and magnetic activity are not preferred to explain the mass discrepancy. We also discuss the performance of the evolutionary model by compiling similar low-mass objects in evolutionary state based on the literature. Consequently, it is suggested that the current model on average reproduces the mass of resolved low-mass binaries without any significant offsets.Comment: Accepted in Ap

    Near-Infrared Imaging Polarimetry of Inner Region of GG Tau A Disk

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    By performing non-masked polarization imaging with Subaru/HiCIAO, polarized scattered light from the inner region of the disk around the GG Tau A system was successfully detected in the HH band with a spatial resolution of approximately 0.07\arcsec, revealing the complicated inner disk structures around this young binary. This paper reports the observation of an arc-like structure to the north of GG Tau Ab and part of a circumstellar structure that is noticeable around GG Tau Aa extending to a distance of approximately 28 AU from the primary star. The speckle noise around GG Tau Ab constrains its disk radius to <13 AU. Based on the size of the circumbinary ring and the circumstellar disk around GG Tau Aa, the semi-major axis of the binary's orbit is likely to be 62 AU. A comparison of the present observations with previous ALMA and near-infrared (NIR) H2_2 emission observations suggests that the north arc could be part of a large streamer flowing from the circumbinary ring to sustain the circumstellar disks. According to the previous studies, the circumstellar disk around GG Tau Aa has enough mass and can sustain itself for a duration sufficient for planet formation; thus, our study indicates that planets can form within close (separation ≲\lesssim 100 AU) young binary systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ, 12 pages, 5 figure
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