Coronagraphic Observations of Fomalhaut at Solar System Scales

Kenworthy, M.A.; Meshkat, T.R.; Quanz, S.; Girard, J.; Meyer, M.; Kasper, M. (2013)

Article / Letter to editor

We report on a search for low mass companions within 10 AU of the star Fomalhaut, using narrowband observations at 4.05 {$μ$}m obtained with the Apodizing Phase Plate coronagraph on the VLT/NaCo. Our observations place a model-dependent upper mass limit of 12-20 M $_{jup}$ from 4 to 10 AU, covering the semimajor axis search space between interferometric imaging measurements and other direct imaging non-detections. These observations rule out models where the large semimajor axis for the putative candidate companion Fomalhaut b is explained by dynamical scattering from a more massive companion in the inner stellar system, where such giant planets are thought to form.

• All authors: Kenworthy, M.A.; Meshkat, T.R.; Quanz, S.; Girard, J.; Meyer, M.; Kasper, M.
• Date: 2013
• Journal: The Astrophysical Journal
• Volume: 764
• Pages: 7
• DOI: doi:10.1088/0004-637X/764/1/7
• Link: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013ApJ...764....7K