NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0064
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0064 |
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PI: Markus Janson, Princeton University (Astrophysics), janson@astro.princeton.edu
Address: Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Peyton Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08544-1001, USA
CoI: Ray Jayawardhana, University of Toronto
CoI: David Lafreniere, University of Montreal
CoI: Mariangela Bonavita, Univ. of Toronto
CoI: John Gizis, University of Delaware
Title: Follow-up of young planet and brown dwarf candidates in the Sco-Cen region
Abstract: In previous surveys of the young (5-17 Myr) Sco-Cen region, we and others have discovered a number of substellar companions with mass ratios to the primary star of 1% and separations of several 100 AU, including the planetary-mass 1RXS J1609b. These properties challenge both planet and star formation theories, and could imply that dynamical ejection is an important mechanism at play, since much lower frequencies of such objects are found in older regions. Motivated by these issues, we started a NICI survey of a larger sample of stars in Sco-Cen in 2011A (GS-2011A-Q-44), where in total 115 stars were observed. Here, we propose follow-up of 55 stars with planet or brown dwarf companion candidates from the survey. Based on previous Sco-Cen frequency determinations of 4-5%, we expect 5-6 genuine companions. Indeed, a dozen of our targets have false alarm probabilities lower than or equal to the true companion probability. These observations will potentially yield the widest, youngest, and lowest-mass planetary systems ever imaged directly, and will provide key insights to the formation and dynamical evolution of planets.
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 > 2012A-0064 |
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