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A Direct Imaging Study to Search for and to Characterize Planetary Mass Companions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2014

K. Ward-Duong*
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
J. Patience
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA Astrophysics Group, School of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK
R. J. De Rosa
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
A. Rajan
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
P. Hinz
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
A. Skemer
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
K. Morzinski
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
J. Males
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
L. M. Close
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
D. W. McCarthy
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
C. Kulesa
Affiliation:
Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Abstract

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We present preliminary results from two parallel programs to search for new substellar companions to nearby, young M-stars and to characterize the atmospheres of known planetary mass and temperature substellar companions. For the M-star survey, we are analyzing high angular resolution archival data on systems within 15pc, complementing a subset with well-determined young ages based on measurements of several age indicators. The results include stellar and substellar companion candidates, which we are currently pursuing with follow-up second epoch images. The characterization component of the project involves using LBT LMIRCam and MMT ARIES direct imaging and spectroscopy data to investigate the atmospheres of known young substellar companions with masses overlapping the planetary regime. These atmospheric studies will represent an analogous comparison to the atmospheres of young imaged planets, and provide a means to fundamentally test evolutionary models, enhancing our understanding of the overall substellar population.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2013 

References

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