Planet Search with the Keck/NIRC2 Vortex Coronagraph in Ms-band for Vega
Authors: Bin B. Ren, Nicole L. Wallack, Spencer A. Hurt, Dimitri Mawet, Aarynn L. Carter, Daniel Echeverri, Jorge Llop-Sayson, Tiffany Meshkat, Rebecca Oppenheimer, Jonathan Aguilar, Eric Cady, Elodie Choquet, Garreth Ruane, Gautum Vasisht, Marie Ygouf
AI-generated Key Points
- Direct imaging observations have revolutionized the search for exoplanets, particularly in systems with circumstellar disks that exhibit gaps indicating the presence of planetary perturbers.
- Vega is an ideal target for planet imaging efforts due to its nearly face-on planetary system and two-belt debris disk structure.
- The authors used the vector vortex coronagraph on Keck/NIRC2 in Ms-band at 4.67 $\mu$m to report planet detection limits from 1 au to 22 au for Vega with an on-target time of 1.8 h.
- The results show a three Jupiter mass limit exterior to 12 au which is almost ten times deeper than previous studies.
- Companions more massive than ~8 Jupiter mass can be confidently ruled out from 22 au down to 0.1 au for Vega by combining these findings with existing radial velocity studies.
- This combined approach reaches planet detection limits down to ~2-3 Jupiter mass using radial velocity and direct imaging inside and outside ~4 au respectively.
- These multi-Jupiter mass detection limits are expected to complement future observations using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in obtaining a more comprehensive understanding of the planetary system configuration around Vega.
- Gaps in circumstellar disks can provide crucial information about exoplanet systems, emphasizing the importance of direct imaging observations in detecting exoplanets beyond our solar system.
- The results obtained from this research will contribute towards advancing our knowledge about exoplanetary systems and their formation mechanisms while paving the way for further discoveries through future observations using advanced telescopes like JWST.
Abstract: Gaps in circumstellar disks can signal the existence of planetary perturbers, making such systems preferred targets for direct imaging observations of exoplanets. Being one of the brightest and closest stars to the Sun, the photometric standard star Vega hosts a two-belt debris disk structure. Together with the fact that its planetary system is being viewed nearly face-on, Vega has been one of the prime targets for planet imaging efforts. Using the vector vortex coronagraph on Keck/NIRC2 in Ms-band at 4.67 $\mu$m, we report the planet detection limits from 1 au to 22 au for Vega with an on-target time of 1.8 h. We reach a 3 Jupiter mass limit exterior to 12 au, which is nearly an order of magnitude deeper than existing studies. Combining with existing radial velocity studies, we can confidently rule out the existence of companions more than ~8 Jupiter mass from 22 au down to 0.1 au for Vega. Interior and exterior to ~4 au, this combined approach reaches planet detection limits down to ~2-3 Jupiter mass using radial velocity and direct imaging, respectively. By reaching multi-Jupiter mass detection limits, our results are expected to be complemented by the planet imaging of Vega in the upcoming observations using the James Webb Space Telescope to obtain a more holistic understanding of the planetary system configuration around Vega.
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