A YOUNG PROTOPLANET CANDIDATE EMBEDDED IN THE CIRCUMSTELLAR DISK OF HD 100546

作者：Quanz Sascha P^*; Amara Adam; Meyer Michael R; Kenworthy Matthew A; Kasper Markus; Girard Julien H

来源：Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2013, 766(1): L1.

DOI：10.1088/2041-8205/766/1/L1

• planet-disk interactions
• planets and satellites: formation
• protoplanetary disks
• stars: formation
• stars: individual (HD 100546)

We present high-contrast observations of the circumstellar environment of the Herbig Ae/Be star HD 100546. The final 3.8 mu m image reveals an emission source at a projected separation of 0 ''.48 +/- 0 ''.04 (corresponding to similar to 47 +/- 4 AU) at a position angle of 8 degrees.9 +/- 0 degrees.9. The emission appears slightly extended with a point source component with an apparent magnitude of 13.2 +/- 0.4 mag. The position of the source coincides with a local deficit in polarization fraction in near-infrared polarimetric imaging data, which probes the surface of the well-studied circumstellar disk of HD 100546. This suggests a possible physical link between the emission source and the disk. Assuming a disk inclination of similar to 47 degrees, the de-projected separation of the object is similar to 68 AU. Assessing the likelihood of various scenarios, we favor an interpretation of the available high-contrast data with a planet in the process of forming. Follow-up observations in the coming years can easily distinguish between the different possible scenarios empirically. If confirmed, HD 100546 "b" would be a unique laboratory to study the formation process of a new planetary system, with one giant planet currently forming in the disk and a second planet possibly orbiting in the disk gap at smaller separations.

• 出版日期2013-3-20