Abstract
We discuss contrast limits obtained during a survey of young (<300 Myr), close (<50 pc) stars with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) implemented at the VLT and the MMT. SDI uses a double Wollaston prism and a quad filter to take images simultaneously at 3 wavelengths surrounding the 1.62 μm methane bandhead found in the spectrum of cool brown dwarfs and gas giants. By performing a difference of images in these filters, speckle noise from the primary can be significantly attenuated, resulting in photon noise limited data. In our survey data, we achieved H band contrasts >25000 (5σ ΔF1(1.575μm)>10 mag, ΔH>10.6 mag for a T6 spectral type) at a separation of 0.5 from the primary star. With this degree of attenuation, we can image (5σ detection) a 2-4 Jupiter mass planet at 5 AU around a 30 Myr star at 10 pc. We are currently completing our survey of young, nearby stars. We have obtained complete datasets for 40 stars in the southern sky (VLT) and 11 stars in the northern sky (MMT). We believe that our SDI images are the highest contrast astronomical images ever made from ground or space for methane rich companions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
| Volume | 6272 II |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2006 |
| Event | Advances in Adaptive Optics II - Orlando, FL, United States Duration: May 24 2006 → May 31 2006 |
Other
| Other | Advances in Adaptive Optics II |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| City | Orlando, FL |
| Period | 5/24/06 → 5/31/06 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Adaptive optics
- Extrasolar planets
- High contrast imaging
- Simultaneous differential imaging
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Condensed Matter Physics
Cite this
Contrast limits with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) at the VLT and MMT. / Biller, Beth A.; Close, Laird M; Masciadri, Elena; Lenzen, Rainer; Brandner, Wolfgang; Mccarthy, Donald W; Henning, Thomas; Nielsen, Eric L.; Hartung, Markus; Kellner, Stephan; Geissler, Kerstin; Kasper, Markus.
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. Vol. 6272 II 2006. 62722D.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Contrast limits with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) at the VLT and MMT
AU - Biller, Beth A.
AU - Close, Laird M
AU - Masciadri, Elena
AU - Lenzen, Rainer
AU - Brandner, Wolfgang
AU - Mccarthy, Donald W
AU - Henning, Thomas
AU - Nielsen, Eric L.
AU - Hartung, Markus
AU - Kellner, Stephan
AU - Geissler, Kerstin
AU - Kasper, Markus
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - We discuss contrast limits obtained during a survey of young (<300 Myr), close (<50 pc) stars with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) implemented at the VLT and the MMT. SDI uses a double Wollaston prism and a quad filter to take images simultaneously at 3 wavelengths surrounding the 1.62 μm methane bandhead found in the spectrum of cool brown dwarfs and gas giants. By performing a difference of images in these filters, speckle noise from the primary can be significantly attenuated, resulting in photon noise limited data. In our survey data, we achieved H band contrasts >25000 (5σ ΔF1(1.575μm)>10 mag, ΔH>10.6 mag for a T6 spectral type) at a separation of 0.5 from the primary star. With this degree of attenuation, we can image (5σ detection) a 2-4 Jupiter mass planet at 5 AU around a 30 Myr star at 10 pc. We are currently completing our survey of young, nearby stars. We have obtained complete datasets for 40 stars in the southern sky (VLT) and 11 stars in the northern sky (MMT). We believe that our SDI images are the highest contrast astronomical images ever made from ground or space for methane rich companions.
AB - We discuss contrast limits obtained during a survey of young (<300 Myr), close (<50 pc) stars with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) implemented at the VLT and the MMT. SDI uses a double Wollaston prism and a quad filter to take images simultaneously at 3 wavelengths surrounding the 1.62 μm methane bandhead found in the spectrum of cool brown dwarfs and gas giants. By performing a difference of images in these filters, speckle noise from the primary can be significantly attenuated, resulting in photon noise limited data. In our survey data, we achieved H band contrasts >25000 (5σ ΔF1(1.575μm)>10 mag, ΔH>10.6 mag for a T6 spectral type) at a separation of 0.5 from the primary star. With this degree of attenuation, we can image (5σ detection) a 2-4 Jupiter mass planet at 5 AU around a 30 Myr star at 10 pc. We are currently completing our survey of young, nearby stars. We have obtained complete datasets for 40 stars in the southern sky (VLT) and 11 stars in the northern sky (MMT). We believe that our SDI images are the highest contrast astronomical images ever made from ground or space for methane rich companions.
KW - Adaptive optics
KW - Extrasolar planets
KW - High contrast imaging
KW - Simultaneous differential imaging
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749005782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33749005782&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1117/12.671771
DO - 10.1117/12.671771
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:33749005782
SN - 081946337X
SN - 9780819463371
VL - 6272 II
BT - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
ER -