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  • Three Years of High-contrast Imaging of the PDS 70 b and c Exoplanets at Hα with MagAO-X: Evidence of Strong Protoplanet Hα Variability and Circumplanetary Dust
Title: Three Years of High-contrast Imaging of the PDS 70 b and c Exoplanets at Hα with MagAO-X: Evidence of Strong Protoplanet Hα Variability and Circumplanetary Dust
Abstract We present 3 yr of high-contrast imaging of the PDS 70 b and c accreting protoplanets with the new extreme AO system MagAO-X as part of the MaxProtoPlanetS survey of Hαprotoplanets. In 2023 and 2024, our sharp (25–27 mas FWHM), well-AO-corrected (20%–26% Strehl), deep (2–3.6 hr) images detected compact (r∼ 30 mas;r∼ 3 au) circumplanetary disks (CPDs) surrounding both protoplanets. Starlight scattering off the front edge of these dusty CPDs is the likely source of the bright compact continuum light detected within ∼30 mas of both planets in our simultaneously obtained continuum 668 nm filter images. After subtraction of contaminating continuum and point-spread function residuals withpyKLIPangular differential imaging and spectral differential imaging, we obtained high-contrast ASDI Hαimages of both planets in 2022, 2023, and 2024. We find the Hαline flux of planet b fell by (8.1 ± 1.6) × 10−16erg s−1cm−2, a factor of 4.6 drop in flux from 2022 to 2023. In 2024 March, planet b continued to be faint with just a slight 1.6× rise to an Hαline flux of (3.64 ± 0.87) × 10−16erg s−1cm−2. For c, we measure a significant increase of (2.74 ± 0.51) × 10−16erg s−1cm−2from 2023 to 2024, which is a factor of 2.3 increase. So both protoplanets have recently experienced significant Hαvariability with ∼1 yr sampling. In 2024, planet c is brighter than b: as c is brightening and b generally fading. We also tentatively detect one new point source “CC3” inside the inner disk (∼49 mas; at PA ∼ 295°; 2024) with orbital motion roughly consistent with a ∼5.6 au orbit.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2307612 2410616
PAR ID:
10560670
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more » ; ; ; ; ; ; « less
Publisher / Repository:
DOI PREFIX: 10.3847
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Astronomical Journal
Volume:
169
Issue:
1
ISSN:
0004-6256
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: Article No. 35
Size(s):
Article No. 35
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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