Keck adaptive optics observations of TW Hydrae Association members
Abstract
Adaptive optics (AO) on 8-10 m telescopes is an enormously powerful tool for studying young nearby stars. It is especially useful for searching for companions. Using AO on the 10-m W.M. Keck II telescope we have measured the position of the brown dwarf companion to TWA5 and resolved the primary into an 0.055 arcsecond double. Over the next several years follow-up astrometry should permit an accurate determination of the masses of these young stars. We have also re-observed the candidate extrasolar planet TWA6B, but measurements of its motion relative to TWA6A are inconclusive. We are carrying out a search for new planetary or brown dwarf companions to TWA stars and, if current giant planet models are correct, are currently capable of detecting a 1 Jupiter-mass companion at ~1 arcsecond and a 5 Jupiter-mass companion at ~0.5 arcsecon around a typical TWA member.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0106479,
title = {Keck adaptive optics observations of TW Hydrae Association members},
author = {Bruce Macintosh and Claire Max and Ben Zuckerman and Eric E. Becklin and Denise Kaisler and Patrick Lowrance and Alycia Weinberger and Julian Christou and Glenn Schneider and Scott Acton},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0106479},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
6 pages, 4 inline eps figues. To appear in "Young Stars Near Earth: Progress and Prospects", ASP conference series, R. Jayawardhana and T. Green eds. uses pasp style file "newpasp.sty" (included)