A 5 mu m IMAGE OF beta PICTORIS b AT A SUB-JUPITER PROJECTED SEPARATION: EVIDENCE FOR A MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE PLANET AND THE INNER, WARPED DISK

作者：Currie Thayne^*; Thalmann Christian; Matsumura Soko; Madhusudhan Nikku; Burrows Adam; Kuchner Marc

来源：Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2011, 736(2): L33.

DOI：10.1088/2041-8205/736/2/L33

• planetary systems
• stars: early-type
• stars: individual (beta Pictoris)

We present and analyze a new M' detection of the young exoplanet beta Pictoris b from 2008 VLT/NaCo data at a separation of approximate to 4 AU and a high signal-to-noise rereduction of L' data taken in 2009 December. Based on our orbital analysis, the planet's orbit is viewed almost perfectly edge-on (i similar to 89 deg) and has a Saturn-like semimajor axis of 9.50 AU(-1.7AU)(+3.93AU). Intriguingly, the planet's orbit is aligned with the major axis of the outer disk (Omega similar to 31 deg) but is probably misaligned with the warp/inclined disk at 80 AU, often cited as a signpost for the planet's existence. Our results motivate new studies to clarify how beta Pic b sculpts debris disk structures and whether a second planet is required to explain the warp/inclined disk.

• 出版日期2011-8-1