Contrast limits with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) at the VLT and MMT

Beth A. Biller; Laird M. Close; Elena Masciadri; Rainer Lenzen; Wolfgang Brandner; Donald McCarthy; Thomas Henning; Eric L. Nielsen; Markus Hartung; Stephan Kellner; Kerstin Geissler; Markus Kasper

doi:10.1117/12.671771

Contrast limits with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) at the VLT and MMT

Beth A. Biller, Laird M. Close, Elena Masciadri, Rainer Lenzen, Wolfgang Brandner, Donald McCarthy, Thomas Henning, Eric L. Nielsen, Markus Hartung, Stephan Kellner, Kerstin Geissler, Markus Kasper

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

11 Scopus citations

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	Advances in Adaptive Optics II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671771
State	Published - 2006
Event	Advances in Adaptive Optics II - Orlando, FL, United States Duration: May 24 2006 → May 31 2006

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	6272 II
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X

Other

Other	Advances in Adaptive Optics II
Country/Territory	United States
City	Orlando, FL
Period	5/24/06 → 5/31/06

Keywords

Adaptive optics
Extrasolar planets
High contrast imaging
Simultaneous differential imaging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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

Access to Document

10.1117/12.671771

Cite this

Biller, B. A., Close, L. M., Masciadri, E., Lenzen, R., Brandner, W., McCarthy, D., Henning, T., Nielsen, E. L., Hartung, M., Kellner, S., Geissler, K., & Kasper, M. (2006). Contrast limits with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) at the VLT and MMT. In Advances in Adaptive Optics II Article 62722D (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 6272 II). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671771

Contrast limits with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) at the VLT and MMT. / Biller, Beth A.; Close, Laird M.; Masciadri, Elena et al.
Advances in Adaptive Optics II. 2006. 62722D (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 6272 II).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Biller, BA, Close, LM, Masciadri, E, Lenzen, R, Brandner, W, McCarthy, D, Henning, T, Nielsen, EL, Hartung, M, Kellner, S, Geissler, K & Kasper, M 2006, Contrast limits with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) at the VLT and MMT. in Advances in Adaptive Optics II., 62722D, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 6272 II, Advances in Adaptive Optics II, Orlando, FL, United States, 5/24/06. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671771

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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.",

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AU - Close, Laird M.

AU - Masciadri, Elena

AU - Lenzen, Rainer

AU - Brandner, Wolfgang

AU - McCarthy, Donald

AU - Henning, Thomas

AU - Nielsen, Eric L.

AU - Hartung, Markus

AU - Kellner, Stephan

AU - Geissler, Kerstin

AU - Kasper, Markus

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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.

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KW - Extrasolar planets

KW - High contrast imaging

KW - Simultaneous differential imaging

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Contrast limits with the Simultaneous Differential Extrasolar Planet Imager (SDI) at the VLT and MMT

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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