Towards constraints on massive galactic stars using VLT/SPHERE with high-contrast imaging

A. Rainot, M. Reggiani, H. Sana, C. A. Gomez-Gonzalez, O. Absil, V. Christiaens, P. Delorme, L. Almeida, S. Caballero-Nieves, J. de Ridder, K. Kratter, S. Lacour, J. B. Le Bouquin, L. Pueyo, H. Zinnecker

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

While the formation of massive stars remains heavily debated, it is nowadays clear that the formation scenarios need to account for the high-degree of multiplicity of these objects that has been observed by recent studies. Here we introduce the Carina High-contrast Imaging Project for massive Stars (CHIPS) that aims to obtain coronagraphic observations of massive stars in the Carina region using VLT/SPHERE. We illustrate the capabilities of SPHERE for massive stars by focusing on the QZ Car system. We detect 19 sources, most of them for the first time, within a 7x700field of view. We show that contrast better than 9 mag can be achieved at separation larger than 200 mas. We also investigate avenues to obtain a first characterisation of the detected sources by fitting their source energy distribution with pre-main sequence stellar atmosphere models.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)366-373
Number of pages8
JournalMemorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana - Journal of the Italian Astronomical Society
Volume90
Issue number3
StatePublished - 2019
EventEWASS 2019: Special Session 22 Stellar Multiplicity in the Gaia Era: Where do we Stand? - Lyon, France
Duration: Jun 25 2019 → …

Keywords

  • Binaries: close
  • Binaries: visual
  • High-contrast imaging
  • Stars: early-type
  • Stars: individual: QZ Car
  • Stars: massive
  • Stars: multiplicity
  • Techniques: high angular resolution Massive Stars: formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Instrumentation
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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