(Proposal ID) S15A-112

(PI) Currie, Thayne

(Proposal Title)
 Directly Imaging Exoplanets and Resolving Asteroid Belts Around Young Stars 
with SCExAO+HiCIAO/VAMPIRES

(Abstract)
We propose a unique, first-of-its-kind combined near-IR high-contrast imaging 
and optical interferometry study of 20 young, debris disk-bearing stars with 
SCExAO + HiCIAO/VAMPIRES.  Our sample includes the benchmark imaged exoplanets 
HR 8799 bcde; luminous, resolvable debris disks; stars with asteroid belts 
that have yet to be resolved in scattered light; poorly-studied stars whose 
disks may be resolvable; and stars with compelling planet candidates requiring 
rapid follow-up.  From proven VAMPIRES performance, SCExAO near-IR advances 
and HiCIAO software and hardware upgrades from our team, our data will 1) 
resolve known debris belts and possible hitherto unseen asteroid belts and 2) 
yield significantly deeper contrasts at small (r = 0.1"-0.5") separations than 
typical HiCIAO data (e.g. 10^{-5} at 0.4"). With the likely-operational 
Pyramid WFS, we will achieve extreme contrasts (< 10^{-6} at r > 0.25") and 
planet detection capabilities rivaling/exceeding those from GPI and SPHERE.  
Our program is guaranteed to result in many publications reporting new 
insights on known exoplanets and disks, may yield the first optical/IR images 
of exo-asteroid belts/other exoplanets, and could firmly establish Subaru/
SCExAO as the premier extreme-AO exoplanet imaging facility.