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We present the results of a survey of 45 young (<250 Myr), close (<50 pc) stars with the Simultaneous Differential Imager (SDI) implemented at the VLT and the MMT for the direct detection of extrasolar planets. As part of the survey, we observed 54 objects total, of which 45 were close, young stars, 2 were somewhat more distant (<150 pc), very young (<10 Myr) stars, 3 were stars with known radial velocity planets, and 4 were older, very nearby (<20 pc) solar analogues. Our SDI devices use a double Wollaston prism and a quad filter to take images simultaneously at 3 wavelengths surrounding the 1.62 um methane absorption bandhead found in the spectrum of cool brown dwarfs and gas giant planets. In our VLT data, we achieved H band contrasts > 10 mag (5 sigma) at a separation of 0.5 from the primary star on 45% of our targets and H band contrasts of > 9 mag at a separation of 0.5 on 80% of our targets. With this degree of attenuation, we should be able to image (5sigma detection) a 5 M_{Jup} planet 15 AU from a 70 Myr K1 star at 15 pc or a 5 M_{Jup} planet at 2 AU from a 12 Myr M star at 10 pc. We believe that our SDI images are the highest contrast astronomical images ever made from ground or space for methane rich companions <1 from their star. For the best 20 of our survey stars, we attained 50% 5 sigma completeness for 6-10 M_Jup planets at semi-major axes of 20-40 AU. Thus, our completeness levels are sufficient to significantly test theoretical planet distributions. From our survey null result, we can rule out (at the 98% confidence/2.0sigma level) a model planet population using a planet distribution where N(a) $propto$ constant out to a distance of 45 AU (further model assumptions discussed within).
We examine the implications for the distribution of extrasolar planets based on the null results from two of the largest direct imaging surveys published to date. Combining the measured contrast curves from 22 of the stars observed with the VLT NACO
Multiplicity is a fundamental property that is set early during stellar lifetimes, and it is a stringent probe of the physics of star formation. The distribution of close companions around young stars is still poorly constrained by observations. We p
The occurrence rate of long-period giant planets around young stars is highly uncertain since it is not only governed by the protoplanetary disc structure and planet formation process, but also reflects dynamical re-structuring processes after planet
Within the NaCo-ISPY exoplanet imaging program, we aim at detecting and characterizing the population of low-mass companions at wide separations ($gtrsim$10AU), focusing in particular on young stars either hosting a known protoplanetary disk or a deb
We report the results of VLT and Keck adaptive optics surveys of known members of the Eta Chamaeleontis, MBM 12, and TW Hydrae (TWA) associations to search for close companions. The multiplicity statistics of Eta Cha, MBM 12, and TWA are quite high c