A new type of exoplanet direct imaging search: A SCExAO/CHARIS survey of accelerating stars

Thayne Currie, Timothy D. Brandt, Masayuki Kuzuhara, Jeffrey Chilcote, Edward Cashman, R. Y. Liu, Kellen Lawson, Taylor Tobin, G. Mirek Brandt, Olivier Guyon, Julien Lozi, Vincent Deo, Sebastien Vievard, Kyoohun Ahn, Nour Skaf

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present first results from a new exoplanet direct imaging survey being carried out with the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics project coupled with the CHARIS integral field spectrograph. Our survey targeting stars showing evidence for a statistically significant astrometric acceleration from the Hipparcos and Gaia satellites implying the existence of substellar or planetary companions at sub-Arcsecond separations. JHK low-resolution spectra from CHARIS constrain newly-discovered companion spectral types, temperatures, and gravities. Relative astrometry of companions from SCExAO/CHARIS and absolute astrometry of the star from Hipparcos and Gaia together yield direct dynamical mass constraints, circumventing usual challenges in inferring the masses of imaged planets from luminosity evolution models. Even in its infancy, our survey has already yielded multiple discoveries, including at least one likely jovian planet at a moderate orbital separation and multiple other substellar companions. We describe how our small nascent survey is yielding a far higher detection rate than large blind surveys from GPI and SPHERE and the path forward for imaging and characterizing planets at lower masses and smaller orbital separations than previously possible.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationTechniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets X
EditorsStuart B. Shaklan, Garreth J. Ruane
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510644847
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
EventTechniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets X 2021 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 1 2021Aug 5 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11823
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceTechniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets X 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period8/1/218/5/21

Keywords

  • Adaptive optics
  • Extrasolar planets
  • Infrared

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A new type of exoplanet direct imaging search: A SCExAO/CHARIS survey of accelerating stars'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this