No Arabic abstract
We present an analysis of instrument performance using new observations taken with the Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (CHARIS) instrument and the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) system. In a correlation analysis of our datasets (which use the broadband mode covering J through K band in a single spectrum), we find that chromaticity in the SCExAO/CHARIS system is generally worse than temporal stability. We also develop a point spread function (PSF) subtraction pipeline optimized for the CHARIS broadband mode, including a forward modelling-based exoplanet algorithmic throughput correction scheme. We then present contrast curves using this newly developed pipeline. An analogous subtraction of the same datasets using only the H band slices yields the same final contrasts as the full JHK sequences; this result is consistent with our chromaticity analysis, illustrating that PSF subtraction using spectral differential imaging (SDI) in this broadband mode is generally not more effective than SDI in the individual J, H, or K bands. In the future, the data processing framework and analysis developed in this paper will be important to consider for additional SCExAO/CHARIS broadband observations and other ExAO instruments which plan to implement a similar integral field spectrograph broadband mode.
We describe a new high-contrast imaging capability well suited for studying planet-forming disks: near-infrared (NIR) high-contrast spectropolarimetric imaging with the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) system coupled with the Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (CHARIS) integral field spectrograph (IFS). The advent of extreme adaptive optics (AO) systems, like SCExAO, has enabled recovery of planet-mass companions at the expected locations of gas-giant formation in young disks alongside disk structures (such as gaps or spirals) that may indicate protoplanet formation. In combination with SCExAO, the CHARIS IFS in polarimetry mode allows characterization of these systems at wavelengths spanning the NIR J, H, and K bands ($1.1-2.4$ $mu m$, $Rsim20$) and at angular separations as small as 0.04. By comparing the resulting images with forward-modeled scattered light or 3D radiative-transfer models, the likely origins of any observed features can be assessed. Utilization of swift optimization algorithms, such as differential evolution (DE), to identify model parameters that best reproduce the observations allows plausible disk geometries to be explored efficiently. The recent addition of CHARISs unique integral field spectropolarimetry mode has further facilitated the study of planet-forming disks -- aiding in the confirmation of candidate protoplanets, the diagnosis of disk structures, and the characterization of dust grain populations. We summarize preliminary results for two young planet-forming disk systems based on observations with the novel integral field spectropolarimetry mode for SCExAO/CHARIS.
We present new, near-infrared (1.1--2.4 $mu m$) high-contrast imaging of the bright debris disk surrounding HIP 79977 with the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics system (SCExAO) coupled with the CHARIS integral field spectrograph. SCExAO/CHARIS resolves the disk down to smaller angular separations of (0.11; $r sim 14$ au) and at a higher significance than previously achieved at the same wavelengths. The disk exhibits a marginally significant east-west brightness asymmetry in $H$ band that requires confirmation. Geometrical modeling suggests a nearly edge-on disk viewed at a position angle of $sim$ 114.6$^{o}$ east of north. The disk is best-fit by scattered-light models assuming strongly forward-scattering grains ($g$ $sim$ 0.5--0.65) confined to a torus with a peak density at $r_{0}$ $sim$ 53--75 au. We find that a shallow outer density power law of $alpha_{out}=$-1-- -3 and flare index of $beta = 1$ are preferred. Other disk parameters (e.g.~inner density power law and vertical scale height) are more poorly constrained. The disk has a slightly blue intrinsic color and its profile is broadly consistent with predictions from birth ring models applied to other debris disks. While HIP 79977s disk appears to be more strongly forward-scattering than most resolved disks surrounding 5--30 Myr-old stars, this difference may be due to observational biases favoring forward-scattering models for inclined disks vs. lower inclination, ostensibly neutral-scattering disks like HR 4796As. Deeper, higher signal-to-noise SCExAO/CHARIS data can better constrain the disks dust composition.
We present SCExAO/CHARIS high-contrast imaging/$JHK$ integral field spectroscopy of $kappa$ And b, a directly-imaged low-mass companion orbiting a nearby B9V star. We detect $kappa$ And b at a high signal-to-noise and extract high precision spectrophotometry using a new forward-modeling algorithm for (A-)LOCI complementary to KLIP-FM developed by Pueyo (2016). $kappa$ And bs spectrum best resembles that of a low-gravity L0--L1 dwarf (L0--L1$gamma$). Its spectrum and luminosity are very well matched by 2MASSJ0141-4633 and several other 12.5--15 $M_{rm J}$ free floating members of the 40 $Myr$-old Tuc-Hor Association, consistent with a system age derived from recent interferometric results for the primary, a companion mass at/near the deuterium-burning limit (13$^{+12}_{-2}$ M$_{rm J}$), and a companion-to-primary mass ratio characteristic of other directly-imaged planets ($q$ $sim$ 0.005$^{+0.005}_{-0.001}$). We did not unambiguously identify additional, more closely-orbiting companions brighter and more massive than $kappa$ And b down to $rho$ $sim$ 0.3 (15 au). SCExAO/CHARIS and complementary Keck/NIRC2 astrometric points reveal clockwise orbital motion. Modeling points towards a likely eccentric orbit: a subset of acceptable orbits include those that are aligned with the stars rotation axis. However, $kappa$ And bs semimajor axis is plausibly larger than 75 au and in a region where disk instability could form massive companions. Deeper $kappa$ And high-contrast imaging and low-resolution spectroscopy from extreme AO systems like SCExAO/CHARIS and higher resolution spectroscopy from Keck/OSIRIS or, later, IRIS on the Thirty Meter Telescope could help clarify $kappa$ And bs chemistry and whether its spectrum provides an insight into its formation environment.
We present Subaru/SCExAO+CHARIS broadband ($JHK$-band) integral field spectroscopy of HD 34700 A. CHARIS data recover HD 34700 As disk ring and confirm multiple spirals discovered in Monnier et al. (2019). We set limits on substellar companions of $sim12 M_{rm Jup}$ at $0farcs3$ (in the ring gap) and $sim5 M_{rm Jup}$ at $0farcs75$ (outside the ring). The data reveal darkening effects on the ring and spiral, although we do not identify the origin of each feature such as shadows or physical features related to the outer spirals. Geometric albedoes converted from the surface brightness suggests a higher scale height and/or prominently abundant sub-micron dust at position angle between $sim45^circ$ and $90^circ$. Spiral fitting resulted in very large pitch angles ($sim30-50^circ$) and a stellar flyby of HD 34700 B or infall from a possible envelope is perhaps a reasonable scenario to explain the large pitch angles.
We present the implementation and use of algorithms for matching point-spread functions (PSFs) within the Pan-STARRS Image Processing Pipeline (IPP). PSF-matching is an essential part of the IPP for the detection of supernovae and asteroids, but it is also used to homogenize the PSF of inputs to stacks, resulting in improved photometric precision compared to regular coaddition, especially in data with a high masked fraction. We report our experience in constructing and operating the image subtraction pipeline, and make recommendations about particular basis functions for constructing the PSF-matching convolution kernel, determining a suitable kernel, parallelisation and quality metrics. We introduce a method for reliably tracking the noise in an image throughout the pipeline, using the combination of a variance map and a `covariance pseudo-matrix. We demonstrate these algorithms with examples from both simulations and actual data from the Pan-STARRS1 telescope.