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1. A Wolf 359 in Sheep's Clothing: Hunting for Substellar Companions in the Fifth-closest System Using Combined High-contrast Imaging and Radial Velocity Analysis

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ad03e5  

   Bowens-Rubin, Rachel; Akana_Murphy, Joseph M; Hinz, Philip M; Limbach, Mary Anne; Seifahrt, Andreas; Kiman, Rocio; Salama, Maïssa; Mukherjee, Sagnick; Brady, Madison; Carter, Aarynn L; et al (November 2023, The Astronomical Journal)

   Abstract Wolf 359 (CN Leo, GJ 406, Gaia DR3 3864972938605115520) is a low-mass star in the fifth-closest neighboring system (2.41 pc). Because of its relative youth and proximity, Wolf 359 offers a unique opportunity to study substellar companions around M stars using infrared high-contrast imaging and radial velocity monitoring. We present the results ofMs-band (4.67μm) vector vortex coronagraphic imaging using Keck-NIRC2 and add 12 Keck-HIRES and 68 MAROON-X velocities to the radial velocity baseline. Our analysis incorporates these data alongside literature radial velocities from CARMENES, the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher, and Keck-HIRES to rule out the existence of a close (a< 10 au) stellar or brown dwarf companion and the majority of large gas giant companions. Our survey does not refute or confirm the long-period radial velocity candidate, Wolf 359 b (P∼ 2900 days), but rules out the candidate's existence as a large gas giant (>4M_Jup) assuming an age of younger than 1 Gyr. We discuss the performance of our high-contrast imaging survey to aid future observers using Keck-NIRC2 in conjunction with the vortex coronagraph in theMsband and conclude by exploring the direct imaging capabilities with JWST to observe Jupiter- and Neptune-mass planets around Wolf 359. 

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2. Global optimization-based reference star differential imaging for high-contrast exoplanet imaging survey

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab022  

   Ren, Deqing; Chen, Yili (February 2021, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   null (Ed.)

   ABSTRACT We propose a data reduction approach called global optimization-based reference star differential imaging (G-RDI), which can be used for exoplanet imaging survey, where large numbers of target stars from the same young stellar association are imaged and where no field rotation is needed. One of the unique features of our G-RDI is that we select reference stars from other scientific target stars in the same stellar association to optimize for high-contrast imaging with a target star, which maximizes the observational efficiency and also delivers good performance to remove the speckle noise so that high contrast is achievable even at a small inner working angle (IWA) to the host star of being imaged. We proposed the G-RDI that is optimized for high-contrast exoplanet imaging at a small IWA and to provide a contrast that is significantly better than the current reference star differential imaging (RDI) method. In addition, we also propose the use of multiple reference stars and found that our G-RDI can further deliver better performance in that case. The result was compared with other exoplanet data reduction techniques, including the traditional RDI, and it indicated that our G-RDI with two reference stars can significantly improve the contrast performance at a small IWA with a high observational efficiency – two critical features that current data reduction techniques cannot offer. This approach could be used with both equatorial and alt-azimuth mount telescopes, and provides a new option for future exoplanet imaging surveys with high observational efficiency at a small IWA. 

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3. Vortex Fiber Nulling for Exoplanet Observations: First Direct Detection of M Dwarf Companions around HIP 21543, HIP 94666, and HIP 50319

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad3619  

   Echeverri, Daniel; Xuan, Jerry W; Monnier, John D; Delorme, Jacques-Robert; Wang, Jason J; Jovanovic, Nemanja; Horstman, Katelyn; Ruane, Garreth; Mennesson, Bertrand; Serabyn, Eugene; et al (April 2024, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract Vortex fiber nulling (VFN) is a technique for detecting and characterizing faint companions at small separations from their host star. A near-infrared (∼2.3μm) VFN demonstrator mode was deployed on the Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer (KPIC) instrument at the Keck Observatory and presented earlier. In this Letter, we present the first VFN companion detections. Three targets, HIP 21543 Ab, HIP 94666 Ab, and HIP 50319 B, were detected with host–companion flux ratios between 70 and 430 at and within one diffraction beamwidth (λ/D). We complement the spectra from KPIC VFN with flux ratio and position measurements from the CHARA Array to validate the VFN results and provide a more complete characterization of the targets. This Letter reports the first direct detection of these three M dwarf companions, yielding their first spectra and flux ratios. Our observations provide measurements of bulk properties such as effective temperatures, radial velocities, and $v\sin i$, and verify the accuracy of the published orbits. These detections corroborate earlier predictions of the KPIC VFN performance, demonstrating that the instrument mode is ready for science observations. 

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4. Detecting Exomoons from Radial Velocity Measurements of Self-luminous Planets: Application to Observations of HR 7672 B and Future Prospects

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/acb34a  

   Ruffio, Jean-Baptiste; Horstman, Katelyn; Mawet, Dimitri; Rosenthal, Lee J.; Batygin, Konstantin; Wang 王, Jason J.; Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell; Wang 王, Ji 吉; Fulton, Benjamin J.; Konopacky, Quinn M.; et al (February 2023, The Astronomical Journal)

   Abstract The detection of satellites around extrasolar planets, so called exomoons, remains a largely unexplored territory. In this work, we study the potential of detecting these elusive objects from radial velocity monitoring of self-luminous, directly imaged planets. This technique is now possible thanks to the development of dedicated instruments combining the power of high-resolution spectroscopy and high-contrast imaging. First, we demonstrate a sensitivity to satellites with a mass ratio of 1%–4% at separations similar to the Galilean moons from observations of a brown-dwarf companion (HR 7672 B;K_mag= 13; 0.″7 separation) with the Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer (R∼ 35,000 in theKband) at the W. M. Keck Observatory. Current instrumentation is therefore already sensitive to large unresolved satellites that could be forming from gravitational instability akin to binary star formation. Using end-to-end simulations, we then estimate that future instruments such as the Multi-Object Diffraction-limited High-resolution Infrared Spectrograph, planned for the Thirty Meter Telescope, should be sensitive to satellites with mass ratios of ∼10⁻⁴. Such small moons would likely form in a circumplanetary disk similar to the Jovian satellites in the solar system. Looking for the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect could also be an interesting pathway to detecting the smallest moons on short orbital periods. Future exomoon discoveries will allow precise mass measurements of the substellar companions that they orbit and provide key insight into the formation of exoplanets. They would also help constrain the population of habitable Earth-sized moons orbiting gas giants in the habitable zone of their stars. 

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5. High contrast at short separation with VLTI/GRAVITY: Bringing Gaia companions to light

   https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202449507  

   Pourré, N; Winterhalder, T O; Le_Bouquin, J-B; Lacour, S; Bidot, A; Nowak, M; Maire, A-L; Mouillet, D; Babusiaux, C; Woillez, J; et al (June 2024, Astronomy & Astrophysics)

   Context.Since 2019, GRAVITY has provided direct observations of giant planets and brown dwarfs at separations of down to 95 mas from the host star. Some of these observations have provided the first direct confirmation of companions previously detected by indirect techniques (astrometry and radial velocities). Aims.We want to improve the observing strategy and data reduction in order to lower the inner working angle of GRAVITY in dual-field on-axis mode. We also want to determine the current limitations of the instrument when observing faint companions with separations in the 30–150 mas range. Methods.To improve the inner working angle, we propose a fiber off-pointing strategy during the observations to maximize the ratio of companion-light-to-star-light coupling in the science fiber. We also tested a lower-order model for speckles to decouple the companion light from the star light. We then evaluated the detection limits of GRAVITY using planet injection and retrieval in representative archival data. We compare our results to theoretical expectations. Results.We validate our observing and data-reduction strategy with on-sky observations; first in the context of brown dwarf follow-up on the auxiliary telescopes with HD 984 B, and second with the first confirmation of a substellar candidate around the starGaiaDR3 2728129004119806464. With synthetic companion injection, we demonstrate that the instrument can detect companions down to a contrast of 8 × 10⁻⁴(ΔΚ= 7.7 mag) at a separation of 35 mas, and a contrast of 3 × 10⁻⁵(ΔΚ= 11 mag) at 100 mas from a bright primary (K< 6.5), for 30 min exposure time. Conclusions.With its inner working angle and astrometric precision, GRAVITY has a unique reach in direct observation parameter space. This study demonstrates the promising synergies between GRAVITY andGaiafor the confirmation and characterization of substellar companions. 

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