S20B0047abst
S20B0047
We propose deep, multi-epoch follow-up imaging to clarify the nature of a protoplanet candidate embedded in the protoplanetary disk around the young intermediate-mass star AB Aur and better characterize the disk’s spiral arms. SCExAO/HiCIAO and CHARIS data recover a bright emission peak in four separate datasets between 2016 and 2018 consistent with the location for a protoplanet predicted from ALMA data. However, current data either have poor quality AO corrections or lack spectrophotometric calibration to clarify whether this peak has a redder spectrum expected for a protoplanet or has a disk-like color. Far deeper, higher quality, and precisely calibrated multi-epoch SCExAO/CHARIS total intensity spectra can clarify whether the candidate’s emission differs from that of the bulk disk. Integral field polarimetry mode – a capability that ONLY CHARIS has – can clarify whether this candidate lacks strong polarization (likely planet) or is highly polarized (likely disk feature). Both total and polarized intensity provide an exquisite look at the structure of a benchmark protoplanetary disk. VAMPIRES H-α differential imaging can identify accretion. This program could provide SCExAO’s first exoplanet discovery (the first one by Subaru in 7 years).
This document was translated from LATEX by HEVEA.