Abstract The superb image quality, stability, and sensitivity of JWST permit deconvolution techniques to be pursued with a fidelity unavailable to ground-based observations. We present an assessment ...of several deconvolution approaches to improve image quality and mitigate the effects of the complex JWST point-spread function (PSF). The optimal deconvolution method is determined by using WebbPSF to simulate JWST’s complex PSF and MIRISim to simulate multiband JWST/Mid-Infrared Imager Module (MIRIM) observations of a toy model of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Five different deconvolution algorithms are tested: (1) Kraken deconvolution, (2) Richardson–Lucy, (3) the adaptive imaging deconvolution algorithm, (4) sparse regularization with the Condat–Vũ algorithm, and (5) iterative Wiener filtering and thresholding. We find that Kraken affords the greatest FWHM reduction of the nuclear source of our MIRISim observations for the toy AGN model while retaining good photometric integrity across all simulated wave bands. Applying Kraken to Galactic Activity, Torus, and Outflow Survey (GATOS) multiband JWST/MIRIM observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 5728, we find that the algorithm reduces the FWHM of the nuclear source by a factor of 1.6–2.2 across all five filters. Kraken images facilitate detection of extended nuclear emission ∼2.″5 (∼470 pc, position angle ≃ 115°) in the SE–NW direction, especially at the longest wavelengths. We demonstrate that Kraken is a powerful tool to enhance faint features otherwise hidden in the complex JWST PSF.
Context: Since the discovery of its dusty disk in 1984, β Pictoris has become the prototype of young early-type planetary systems, and there are now various indications that a massive Jovian planet ...is orbiting the star at ~10 AU. However, no planets have been detected around this star so far. Aims: Our goal was to investigate the close environment of β Pic, searching for planetary companion(s). Methods: Deep adaptive-optics L'-band images of β Pic were recorded using the NaCo instrument at the Very Large Telescope. Results: A faint point-like signal is detected at a projected distance of ≃8 AU from the star, within the northeastern extension of the dust disk. Various tests were made to rule out possible instrumental or atmospheric artefacts at a good confidence level. The probability of a foreground or background contaminant is extremely low, based in addition on the analysis of previous deep HST images. Its L'=11.2 apparent magnitude would indicate a typical temperature of ~1500 K and a mass of ~8 M_Jup. If confirmed, it could explain the main morphological and dynamical peculiarities of the β Pic system. The present detection is unique among A-stars by the proximity of the resolved planet to its parent star. Its closeness and location inside the β Pic disk suggest a formation process by core accretion or disk instabilities rather than binary-like formation processes. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile, ESO (runs 072.C-0624(B) and 60.A-9026(A)) and on observations made with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph onboard the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
Context. In June 2010, we confirmed the existence of a giant planet in the disk of the young star βPictoris located between 8 AU and 15 AU from the star. This young planet offers the rare ...opportunity to monitor a large fraction of the orbit using the imaging technique over a reasonably short timescale. It also offers the opportunity to study its atmospheric properties using spectroscopy and multi-band photometry, and possibly derive its dynamical mass by combining imaging with radial velocity data to set tight constraints on giant planet formation theories. Aims. We aim to measure the evolution of the planet’s position relative to the star βPictoris to determine the planetary orbital properties. Our ultimate goal is to relate both the planetary orbital configuration and physical properties to either the disk structure or the cometary activity observed for decades in the βPictoris system. Methods. Using the NAOS-CONICA adaptive-optics instrument (NACO) at the Very Large Telescope (VLT), we obtained repeated follow-up images of the βPictoris system in the Ks and L′ filters at four new epochs in 2010 and 2011. Complementing these data with previous measurements, we conduct a homogeneous analysis, which covers more than eight yrs, to accurately monitor the βPictoris b position relative to the star. We then carefully consider the various sources of uncertainties that may affect the orbital parameter determination. Results. On the basis of the evolution of the planet’s relative position with time, we derive the best-fit orbital solutions for our measurements using two fitting methods, a least squares Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and a Markov-chain Monte Carlo approach. More reliable results are found with the second approach as our measurements do not cover the complete planetary orbit, and are biased toward the most recent epochs since the planet recovery. The solutions favor a low-eccentricity orbit e ≲ 0.17, with semi-major axis in the range 8–9 AU corresponding to orbital periods of 17–21 yrs. Our solutions favor a highly inclined solution with a peak around i = 88.5 ± 1.7°, and a longitude of ascending node tightly constrained at Ω = −147.5 ± 1.5°. These results indicate that the orbital plane of the planet is likely to be above the midplane of the main disk, and compatible with the warp component of the disk being tilted between 3.5 deg and 4.0 deg. This suggests that the planet plays a key role in the origin of the inner warped-disk morphology of the β Pic disk. Finally, these orbital parameters are consistent with the hypothesis that the planet is responsible for the transit-like event observed in November 1981, and also linked to the cometary activity observed in the β Pic system.
Using VLTI/GRAVITY and SINFONI data, we investigate the subparsec gas and dust structure around the nearby type 1 active galactic nucleus (AGN) hosted by NGC 3783. The
K
-band coverage of GRAVITY ...uniquely allows simultaneous analysis of the size and kinematics of the broad line region (BLR), the size and structure of the near-infrared(near-IR)-continuum-emitting hot dust, and the size of the coronal line region (CLR). We find the BLR, probed through broad Br
γ
emission, to be well described by a rotating, thick disc with a radial distribution of clouds peaking in the inner region. In our BLR model, the physical mean radius of 16 light-days is nearly twice the ten-day time-lag that would be measured, which closely matches the ten-day time-lag that has been measured by reverberation mapping. We measure a hot dust full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) size of 0.74 mas (0.14 pc) and further reconstruct an image of the hot dust, which reveals a faint (5% of the total flux) offset cloud that we interpret as an accreting or outflowing cloud heated by the central AGN. Finally, we directly measure the FWHM size of the nuclear CLR as traced by the Ca
VIII
and narrow Br
γ
line. We find a FWHM size of 2.2 mas (0.4 pc), fully in line with the expectation of the CLR located between the BLR and narrow line region. Combining all of these measurements together with larger scale near-IR integral field unit and mid-IR interferometry data, we are able to comprehensively map the structure and dynamics of gas and dust from 0.01 to 100 pc.
Aims.
Currently, the global characteristics and evolution of super star clusters (SSCs) are not well understood, due to the large distances to their host galaxies. We aim to study the population of ...SSCs in IRAS 17138-1017, a luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG), in terms of age, extinction, mass, and luminosity distribution.
Methods.
We analyzed imaging data in the near-infrared from the GeMS/GSAOI instrument on the Gemini telescope and generated simulations with the radiative transfer code MontAGN. The extraction of SSCs from the images and their photometry in
J
,
H
, and
K
s
allowed us to derive color-color and color-magnitude diagrams. Comparison with a theoretical stellar evolutionary track gives a first hint into the extinction towards each SSC, as well as their ages, despite some degeneracy between those two quantities. Spectra given by our radiative transfer code MontAGN, which includes dust emission, also provide insightful predictions and comparisons.
Results.
We detect with a fair degree of confidence 54 SSCs of
m
K
s
between 16 mag and 21 mag with a median instrumental uncertainty of 0.05 mag. When plotted on a color–color diagram and a color–magnitude diagram, it appears that most of the sources are very much extinct with respect to an intrinsic theoretical evolutionary track. Once de-reddened, the colors point unambiguously to two distinct and very recent starburst episodes at 2.8 and 4.5 Myr. While the SSCs in the 4.5 Myr starburst are distributed along the spiral arms, the 2.8 Myr SSCs are concentrated in the central region. The luminosity and mass functions present a classical power-law behavior, although with shallower slopes than generally observed in LIRGs. Comparison with radiative transfer simulations shows that, the dust thermal emission and scattered light are negligible and could not explain the few very red SSCs that could not be de-reddened safely.
Context. Characterization of directly imaged exoplanets is one of the most eagerly anticipated science functions of the James Webb Space Telescope. MIRI, the mid-IR instrument, has the capability to ...provide unique spatially resolved photometric data points in a spectral range never before achieved for such objects.
Aims. We aim to present the very first on-sky contrast measurements of the MIRI coronagraphs. In addition to a classical Lyot coronagraph at the longest wavelength, this observing mode implements the concept of the four-quadrant phase mask for the very first time in a space telescope.
Methods. We observed single stars together with a series of reference stars to measure raw contrasts as they are delivered on the detector, as well as reference-subtracted contrasts.
Results. The MIRI coronagraphs achieve raw contrasts better than 10−3 at the smallest angular separations (within 1″) and about 10−5 farther out (beyond 5 ~ 6″). Subtracting the residual diffracted light left behind the coronagraph has the potential to bring the final contrast down to the background- and detector-limited noise floor at most angular separations (a few times 10−5 at less than 1″).
Conclusions. The MIRI coronagraphs behave as expected from simulations. In particular, the raw contrasts for all four coronagraphs are fully consistent with the diffractive model. Contrasts obtained by subtracting reference stars also meet expectations and are fully demonstrated for two four-quadrant phase masks (F1065C and F1140C). The worst contrast, measured at F1550C, is very likely due to a variation in the phase aberrations at the primary mirror during the observations, and not an issue with the coronagraph itself. We did not perform reference star subtraction with the Lyot mask at F2300C, but we anticipate that it would bring the contrast down to the noise floor.
ABSTRACT
HD 163296 is a Herbig Ae/Be star known to host a protoplanetary disc with a ringed structure. To explain the disc features, previous works proposed the presence of planets embedded into the ...disc. We have observed HD 163296 with the near-infrared (NIR) branch of SPHERE composed by IRDIS (InfraRed Dual-band Imager and Spectrograph) and IFS (integral field spectrograph) with the aim to put tight constraints on the presence of substellar companions around this star. Despite the low rotation of the field of view during our observation we were able to put upper mass limits of few MJup around this object. These limits do not allow to give any definitive conclusion about the planets proposed through the disc characteristics. On the other hand, our results seem to exclude the presence of the only candidate proposed until now using direct imaging in the NIR even if some caution has to be taken considered the different wavelength bands of the two observations.
Aims.
In this paper we aim to constrain the properties of dust structures in the central first parsecs of active galactic nuclei (AGN). Our goal is to study the required optical depth and composition ...of different dusty and ionised structures.
Methods.
We developed a radiative transfer code called Monte Carlo for Active Galactic Nuclei (MontAGN), which is optimised for polarimetric observations in the infrared. With both this code and STOKES, designed to be relevant from the hard X-ray band to near-infrared wavelengths, we investigate the polarisation emerging from a characteristic model of the AGN environment. For this purpose, we compare predictions of our models with previous infrared observations of NGC 1068, and try to reproduce several key polarisation patterns revealed by polarisation mapping.
Results.
We constrain the required dust structures and their densities. More precisely, we find that the electron density inside the ionisation cone is about 2.0 × 10
9
m
−3
. With structures constituted of spherical grains of constant density, we also highlight that the torus should be thicker than 20 in term of
K
-band optical depth to block direct light from the centre. It should also have a stratification in density: a less dense outer rim with an optical depth at 2.2
μ
m typically between 0.8 and 4 for observing the double scattering effect previously proposed.
Conclusions.
We bring constraints on the dust structures in the inner parsecs of an AGN model supposed to describe NGC 1068. When compared to observations, this leads to an optical depth of at least 20 in the
Ks
band for the torus of NGC 1068, corresponding to
τ
V
≈ 170, which is within the range of current estimation based on observations. In the future, we will improve our study by including non-uniform dust structures and aligned elongated grains to constrain other possible interpretations of the observations.
We present new observations of the nuclear star cluster in the central parsec of the Galaxy with the adaptive optics assisted, integral field spectrograph SINFONI on the ESO/VLT. Our work allows the ...spectroscopic detection of early- and late-type stars to mK >= 16, more than 2 mag deeper than our previous data sets. Our observations result in a total sample of 177 bona fide early-type stars. We find that most of these Wolf Rayet (WR), O-, and B-stars reside in two strongly warped disks between 08 and 12'' from Sgr A*, as well as a central compact concentration (the S-star cluster) centered on Sgr A*. The later type B-stars (mK >15) in the radial interval between 08 and 12''seem to be in a more isotropic distribution outside the disks. The observed dearth of late-type stars in the central few arcseconds is puzzling, even when allowing for stellar collisions. The stellar mass function of the disk stars is extremely top heavy with a best-fit power law of dN/dm m -0.45+/- 0.3. WR/O-stars were formed in situ in a single star formation event ~6 Myr ago, this mass function probably reflects the initial mass function (IMF). The mass functions of the S-stars inside 08 and of the early-type stars at distances beyond 12'' are compatible with a standard Salpeter/Kroupa IMF (best-fit power law of dN/dm m -2.15+/- 0.3).
Context. The central parsec of the Galaxy contains a young star cluster embedded in a complex interstellar medium. The latter mainly consists of a torus of dense clumps and streams of molecular gas ...(the circumnuclear disk) enclosing streamers of ionized gas (the Minispiral). Aims. In this complex environment, knowledge of the local extinction that locally affects each feature is crucial to properly study and disentangle them. We previously studied molecular gas in this region and inferred an extinction map from two H2 lines. Extinction appears to be correlated with the dereddened flux in several contiguous areas in the field of view. Here, we discuss the origin of this local correlation. Methods. We model the observed effect with a simple radiative transfer model. H2 emission arises from the surfaces of clumps (i.e., shells) that are exposed to the ambient ultraviolet (UV) radiation field. We consider the shell at the surface of an emitting clump. The shell has a varying optical depth and a screen of dust in front of it. The optical depth varies from one line of sight to another, either because of varying extinction coefficient from the shell of one clump to that of another or because of a varying number of identical clumps on the line of sight. Results. In both scenarios, the model accurately reproduces the dependence of molecular gas emission and extinction. The reason for this correlation is that, in the central parsec, the molecular gas is mixed everywhere with dust that locally affects the observed gas emission. In addition, there is extinction due to foreground (“screen”) dust. Conclusions. This analysis favors a scenario where the central parsec is filled with clumps of dust and molecular gas. Separating foreground from local extinction allows for a probe for local conditions (H2 is mixed with dust) and can also constrain the three-dimensional (3D) position of objects under study.
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