Marshall D. Perrin

THE STRUCTURE OF HIGH STREHL RATIO POINT-SPREAD FUNCTIONS

We describe the symmetries present in the point-spread function (PSF) of an optical system either located in space or corrected by an adaptive optics (AO) system to Strehl ratios of about 70% and higher. We present a formalism for expanding the PSF to arbitrary order in terms of powers of the Fourier transform of the residual phase error over an arbitrarily shaped and apodized entrance aperture. For traditional unapodized apertures at high Strehl ratios, bright speckles pinned to the bright Airy rings are part of an antisymmetric perturbation of the perfect PSF, arising from the term that is first order in the residual phase error. There are two symmetric second-degree terms. One is negative at the center and, like the first-order term, is modulated

Probing dust grain evolution in IM Lupi's circumstellar disc Multi-wavelength observations and modelling of the dust disc

Aims. We present a panchromatic study, involving a multiple technique approach, of the circumstellar disc surrounding the T Tauri star IM Lupi (Sz 82). Methods. We have undertaken a comprehensive observational study of IM Lupi using photometry, spectroscopy, millimetre interferometry and multi-wavelength imaging. For the first time, the disc is resolved from optical and near-infrared wavelengths in scattered light, to the millimetre regime in thermal emission. Our data-set, in conjunction with existing photometric data, provides an extensive coverage of the spectral energy distribution, including a detailed spectrum of the silicate emission bands. We have performed a simultaneous modelling of the various observations, using the radiative transfer code MCFOST, and analysed a grid of models over a large fraction of the parameter space via Bayesian inference. Results. We have constructed a model that can reproduce all of the observations of the disc. Our analysis illustrates the importance of combining a wide range of observations in order to fully constrain the disc model, with each observation providing a strong constraint only on some aspects of the disc structure and dust content. Quantitative evidence of dust evolution in the disc is obtained: grain growth up to millimetre-sized particles, vertical stratification of dust grains with micrometric grains close to the disc surface and larger grains which have settled towards the disc midplane, and possibly the formation of fluffy aggregates and/or ice mantles around grains.

THE SOLAR-SYSTEM-SCALE DISK AROUND AB AURIGAE

The young star AB Aurigae is surrounded by a complex combination of gas-rich and dust-dominated structures. The inner disk, which has not been studied previously at sufficient resolution and imaging dynamic range, seems to contain very little gas inside a radius of least 130 AU from the star. Using adaptive optics coronagraphy and polarimetry, we have imaged the dust in an annulus between 43 and 302 AU from the star, a region never seen before. An azimuthal gap in an annulus of dust at a radius of 102 AU, along with a clearing at closer radii inside this annulus, suggests the formation of at least one small body at an orbital distance of ~100 AU. This structure seems consistent with crude models of mean motion resonances or accumulation of material at two of the Lagrange points relative to the putative object and the star. We also report a low significance detection of a point source in this outer annulus of dust. This source may be an overdensity in the disk due to dust accreting onto an unseen companion. An alternate interpretation suggests that the objects mass is between 5 and 37 times the mass of Jupiter. The results have implications for circumstellar disk dynamics and planet formation.

Laser guide star adaptive optics imaging polarimetry of Herbig Ae/Be stars

We have used laser guide star adaptive optics and a near-infrared dual-channel imaging polarimeter to observe light scattered in the circumstellar environment of Herbig Ae/Be stars on scales of 100 to 300 astronomical units. We revealed a strongly polarized, biconical nebula 10 arc seconds (6000 astronomical units) in diameter around the star LkHα 198 and also observed a polarized jet-like feature associated with the deeply embedded source LkHα 198-IR. The star LkHα 233 presents a narrow, unpolarized dark lane consistent with an optically thick circumstellar disk blocking our direct view of the star. These data show that the lower-mass T Tauri and intermediate mass Herbig Ae/Be stars share a common evolutionary sequence.

MID-INFRARED SIZE SURVEY OF YOUNG STELLAR OBJECTS: DESCRIPTION OF KECK SEGMENT-TILTING EXPERIMENT AND BASIC RESULTS

The mid-infrared properties of pre-planetary disks are sensitive to the temperature and flaring profiles of disks for the regions where planet formation is expected to occur. In order to constrain theories of planet formation, we have carried out a mid-infrared (λ = 10.7 μm) size survey of young stellar objects using the segmented Keck telescope in a novel configuration. We introduced a customized pattern of tilts to individual mirror segments to allow efficient sparse-aperture interferometry, allowing full aperture synthesis imaging with higher calibration precision than traditional imaging. In contrast to previous surveys on smaller telescopes and with poorer calibration precision, we find that most objects in our sample are partially resolved. Here, we present the main observational results of our survey of five embedded massive protostars, 25 Herbig Ae/Be stars, 3 T Tauri stars, 1 FU Ori system, and five emission-line objects of uncertain classification. The observed mid-infrared sizes do not obey the size-luminosity relation found at near-infrared wavelengths and a companion paper will provide further modeling analysis of this sample. In addition, we report imaging results for a few of the most resolved objects, including complex emission around embedded massive protostars, the photoevaporating circumbinary disk around MWC 361A, and the subarcsecond binaries T Tau, FU Ori, and MWC 1080.

Is that really your Strehl ratio

Strehl ratio is the most commonly used metric for adaptive optics (AO) performance. It is also the most misused metric. Every Strehl ratio measurement algorithm has subtle differences that result in different measured values. This creates problems when comparing different measurements of the same AO system and even more problems when trying to compare results from different systems. To determine how much the various algorithm difference actually impacted the measured values, we created a series of simulated point spread functions (PSF). The simulated PSFs were then sent around to the various members of the project who then measured the Strehl ratio. The measurements were done blindly, with no knowledge of the true Strehl ratio. We then compared the various measurements to the truth values. Each measurement cycle turned up impacts which were further investigated in the next cycle. We present the results of our comparisons showing the scatter in measured Strehl ratios and our best recommendations for computing an accurate Strehl ratio.

Discovery of an Optically Thick, Edge-on Disk around the Herbig Ae Star PDS 144N*

We have discovered an optically thick, edge-on circumstellar disk around a Herbig Ae star in the binary system PDS 144, providing the first intermediate-mass analog of HK Tau and similar T Tauri stars. This system consists of a V ! 13magprimaryandafaintercompanion,withthespectraofbothstarsshowingevidenceforcircumstellardisks and accretion; both stars were classified as Herbig Ae by the Pico dos Dias Survey. In Lick adaptive optics polarimetry, we resolved extended polarized light scattered from dust around the northern star. Follow-up Keck adaptive optics and mid-infrared observations show that this star is entirely hidden by an optically thick disk at all wavelengths from 1.2 to 11.7 ! m. The disk major axis subtends ! 0B8 on the sky, corresponding to ! 800 AU at a distance of 1000 pc. Bright ‘‘wings’’ extend 0B3 above and below the disk ansae, due most likely to scattering from the edges of an outflow cavity in a circumstellar envelope. We discuss the morphology of the disk and the spectral energy distributions of the two PDS 144 stars, present preliminary disk models, and identify a number of open questions regarding this fascinating system. Subject headingg: accretion, accretion disks — circumstellar matter — dust, extinction — planetary systems: protoplanetary disks — stars: individual (PDS 144) — stars: pre‐main-sequence

DISCOVERY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A FAINT STELLAR COMPANION TO THE A3V STAR ζ VIRGINIS

Through the combination of high-order adaptive optics and coronagraphy, we report the discovery of a faint stellar companion to the A3V star ζ Virginis. This companion is ~7 mag fainter than its host star in the H band, and infrared imaging spanning 4.75 years over five epochs indicates this companion has common proper motion with its host star. Using evolutionary models, we estimate its mass to be 0.168^(+0.012) _(–0.016) M_☉, giving a mass ratio for this system q = 0.082^(+0.007)_(–0.008). Assuming the two objects are coeval, this mass suggests an M4V-M7V spectral type for the companion, which is confirmed through integral field spectroscopic measurements. We see clear evidence for orbital motion from this companion and are able to constrain the semimajor axis to be ≳24.9 AU, the period ≳124 yr, and eccentricity ≳0.16. Multiplicity studies of higher mass stars are relatively rare, and binary companions such as this one at the extreme low end of the mass ratio distribution are useful additions to surveys incomplete at such a low mass ratio. Moreover, the frequency of binary companions can help to discriminate between binary formation scenarios that predict an abundance of low-mass companions forming from the early fragmentation of a massive circumstellar disk. A system such as this may provide insight into the anomalous X-ray emission from A stars, hypothesized to be from unseen late-type stellar companions. Indeed, we calculate that the presence of this M-dwarf companion easily accounts for the X-ray emission from this star detected by ROSAT.

THE LYOT PROJECT DIRECT IMAGING SURVEY OF SUBSTELLAR COMPANIONS: STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND INFORMATION FROM NONDETECTIONS

The Lyot project used an optimized Lyot coronagraph with extreme adaptive optics at the 3.63 m Advanced Electro-Optical System telescope to observe 86 stars from 2004 to 2007. In this paper, we give an overview of the survey results and a statistical analysis of the observed nondetections around 58 of our targets to place constraints on the population of substellar companions to nearby stars. The observations did not detect any companion in the substellar regime. Since null results can be as important as detections, we analyzed each observation to determine the characteristics of the companions that can be ruled out. For this purpose, we use a Monte Carlo approach to produce artificial companions and determine their detectability by comparison with the sensitivity curve for each star. All the non-detection results are combined using a Bayesian approach and we provide upper limits on the population of giant exoplanets and brown dwarfs for this sample of stars. Our nondetections confirm the rarity of brown dwarfs around solar-like stars and we constrain the frequency of massive substellar companions (M>40 M_J) at orbital separation between and 10 and 50 AU to be ≲20%.

The Lyot project: toward exoplanet imaging and spectroscopy

Among the adaptive optics systems available to astronomers, the US Air Force Advanced Electro-Optical System (AEOS) is unique because it delivers very high order wave front correction. The Lyot Project includes the construction and installation of the world’s first diffraction-limited, optimized coronagraph that exploits the full astronomical potential of AEOS and represents a critical step toward the long-term goal of directly imaging and studying extrasolar planets (a.k.a. “exoplanets”). We provide an update on the Project, whose coronagraph saw first light in March 2004. The coronagraph is operating at least as well as predicted by simulations, and a survey of nearby stars has begun.