Article (Scientific journals)
Direct imaging of extra-solar planets in star forming regions. Lessons learned from a false positive around IM Lup.
Mawet, Dimitri; Absil, Olivier; Riaud, Pierre et al.
2012In Astronomy and Astrophysics, 544, p. 131
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Abstract :
[en] Context. Most planet imagers consist of ground-based adaptive optics coronagraphic cameras which are currently limited in contrast, sensitivity and astrometric precision, but advantageously observe in the near-infrared window (1 - 5 µm). Because of these practical limitations, our current observational aim at detecting and characterizing planets puts heavy constraints on target selection, observing strategies, data reduction, and follow-up. Most surveys so far have thus targeted very young systems (1 - 100Myr) to catch the putative remnant thermal radiation of giant planets, which peaks in the near-infrared. They also favor systems in the solar neighborhood (d < 80 pc), which eases angular resolution requirements but also ensures a good knowledge of the distance and proper motion, which are critical to secure the planet status, and enable any subsequent characterization. Aims. Because of their youth, it is very tempting to target the nearby star forming regions, which are typically twice as far as the bulk of objects usually combed for planets by direct imaging. Probing these very interesting reservoirs in practice sets additional constraints that we review in this paper by presenting the planet search that we initiated in 2008 around the disk-bearing T Tauri star IM Lup, which is part of the Lupus star forming region (140-190 pc). Methods. We show and discuss why age determination, the choice of evolutionary model for both the central star and the planet, precise knowledge of the host star proper motion, relative or absolute (between different instruments) astrometric accuracy (including plate scale calibration), and patience are the key ingredients for exoplanet searches around more distant young stars. Results. Unfortunately, most of the time, precision and perseverance are not paying off: we discovered a candidate companion around IM Lup in 2008, which we report here to be a false positive event. We nevertheless review in details the lessons learned from our endeavor, and additionally present the best detection limits ever calculated for IM Lup. We also accessorily report on the successful use of innovative data reduction techniques, such as the damped-LOCI and iterative roll subtraction.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Mawet, Dimitri;  European Southern Observatory
Absil, Olivier  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astroph. extragalactique et observations spatiales (AEOS)
Riaud, Pierre;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Surdej, Jean  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astroph. extragalactique et observations spatiales (AEOS)
Montagnier, Guillaume;  European Southern Observatory
Ducourant, Christine;  Université Bordeaux 1 > LAB
Augereau, Jean-Charles;  Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 - UJF > Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG)
Röttinger, Sarah;  Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 - UJF > Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG)
Girard, Julien;  European Southern Observatory
Krist, John;  National Aeronautics and Space Administration - NASA > Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Stapelfeldt, Karl;  National Aeronautics and Space Administration - NASA > Goddard Space Flight Center
Language :
English
Title :
Direct imaging of extra-solar planets in star forming regions. Lessons learned from a false positive around IM Lup.
Publication date :
August 2012
Journal title :
Astronomy and Astrophysics
ISSN :
0004-6361
eISSN :
1432-0746
Publisher :
EDP Sciences, Les Ulis, France
Volume :
544
Pages :
A131
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 28 June 2012

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