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  • PROBING FOR EXOPLANETS HIDI...
    Schneider, Glenn; Grady, Carol A; Hines, Dean C; Stark, Christopher C; Debes, John H; Carson, Joe; Kuchner, Marc J; Perrin, Marshall D; Weinberger, Alycia J; Wisniewski, John P

    The Astronomical journal, 10/2014, Volume: 148, Issue: 4
    Journal Article

    Spatially resolved scattered-light images of circumstellar debris in exoplanetary systems constrain the physical properties and orbits of the dust particles in these systems. They also inform on co-orbiting (but unseen) planets, the systemic architectures, and forces perturbing the starlight-scattering circumstellar material. Using Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) broadband optical coronagraphy, we have completed the observational phase of a program to study the spatial distribution of dust in a sample of 10 circumstellar debris systems and 1 "mature" protoplanetrary disk, all with HST pedigree, using point-spread-function-subtracted multi-roll coronagraphy. Other disks with ring-like substructures and significant asymmetries and complex morphologies include HD 181327, for which we posit a spray of ejecta from a recent massive collision in an exo-Kuiper Belt; HD 61005, suggested to be inter-acting with the local inter-stellar-medium; andHD15115 and HD 32297, also discussed in the context of putative environmental interactions. These and other new images from our HST/STIS GO/12228 program enable direct inter-comparison of the architectures of these exoplanetary debris systems in the context of our own solar system.