NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0093
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0093 |
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PI: Christian Thalmann, University of Amsterdam, thalmann@uva.nl
Address: Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
CoI: Klaus Hodapp, University of Hawaii (IfA)
CoI: Joseph Carson, College of Charleston
CoI: Markus Janson, University of Toronto
CoI: Misato Fukagawa, Osaka University
CoI: Miwa Goto, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
CoI: Carol Grady, Eureka Scientific & GSFC
CoI: Jun Hashimoto, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
CoI: Thomas Henning, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
CoI: Mitsuhiko Honda, Kanagawa University
CoI: Michael W. McElwain, GSFC
CoI: Michiel Min, University of Utrecht
CoI: Gijs Mulders, University of Amsterdam
CoI: Motohide Tamura, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
CoI: John Wisniewski, University of Washington
Title: A Complete Image of the LkCa 15 Disk Gap
Abstract:
One of the greatest open questions in present-day astrophysics is how
planetary systems like ours form. In the quest for answers, transitional
disks like the one surrounding the star LkCa 15 are of paramount importance.
These protoplanetary disks featuring wide gaps in their central regions are
thought to represent snapshots of a brief but critical stage in the formation
of a planetary system in which the disk material is rapidly dissipated.
Although a wealth of information can be gleaned from the spectral energy
distribution of such a system, degeneracies remain that can only be broken by
obtaining a direct image of the disk gap. Our observations of LkCa 15 with
ground-based adaptive optics resulted in the first resolved imaging of a
transitional disk. We propose a sequence of deep Gemini NIRI K-band
observations sampling both short and long timescales to establish decisive,
high-confidence images of the LkCa 15 disk gap, looking for temporal
variability of disk features, attempting direct detection of planets, and
measuring the reliability of our imaging technique. This would provide an
improved understanding of this exciting system, and an important
observational contribution to the field of planet formation.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0093 |
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