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B. A. Biller

Publications and source records attributed to B. A. Biller.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

The VLT/ERIS grating vector Apodizing Phase Plate coronagraph

We describe the design, laboratory manufacture, and on-sky testing of the grating vector apodizing phase plate (gvAPP) coronagraph for the Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph (ERIS) on the Very Large Telescope. We used both laboratory measurements and on-sky observations to characterise the gvAPP in several different filters, from the K to the L band. In testing, the gvAPP reaches its design specification in the transmission of the optic with 90% in the K bands and 60% in the L band. While the gvAPP reaches its designed raw contrast performance of $1 \times 10^{-5}$, it does not reach the post-processed contrast of $5 \times 10^{-5}$ in on-sky observations. Electronic detector noise, due to the Airy core of the coronagraphic point spread function inducing cross-talk between the readout amplifiers, produces a repeated pattern within the coronagraphic regions of the gvAPP. Despite these limitations, we recommend the gvAPP as a tool for characterising substellar companions with known separations and position angles, which allow them to be placed in the coronagraphic dark holes for observations. The ERIS gvAPP's leakage term can also be used as a photometric reference for time series observations; however, we caution that the contrast performance may limit such studies to only the brightest targets. ERIS gvAPP data quality may be improved further with better modelling of detector electronic noise. This work is a pathfinder for Extremely Large Telescope instruments including METIS, which will include gvAPP coronagraphs with improved designs based on these results.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2025

Evidence for SiO cloud nucleation in the rogue planet PSO J318

Silicate clouds are known to significantly impact the spectra of late L-type brown dwarfs, with observable absorption features at ~ 10 micron. JWST has reopened our window to the mid-infrared with unprecedented sensitivity, bringing the characterization of silicates into focus again. Using JWST, we characterize the planetary-mass brown dwarf PSO J318.5338-22.8603, concentrating on any silicate cloud absorption the object may exhibit. PSO J318's spectrum is extremely red, and its flux is variable, both of which are likely hallmarks of cloud absorption. We present JWST NIRSpec PRISM, G395H, and MIRI MRS observations from 1-18 micron. We introduce a method based on PSO J318's brightness temperature to generate a list of cloud species that are likely present in its atmosphere. We then test for their presence with petitRADTRANS retrievals. Using retrievals and grids from various climate models, we derive bulk parameters from PSO J318's spectra, which are mutually compatible. Our retrieval results point to a solar to slightly super-solar atmospheric C/O, a slightly super-solar metallicity, and a 12C/13C below ISM values. The atmospheric gravity proves difficult to constrain for both retrievals and grid models. Retrievals describing the flux of PSO J318 by mixing two 1-D models (``two-column models'') appear favored over single-column models; this is consistent with PSO J318's variability. The JWST spectra also reveal a pronounced absorption feature at 10 micron. This absorption is best reproduced by introducing a high-altitude cloud layer of small (<0.1 micron), amorphous SiO grains. The retrieved particle size and location of the cloud is consistent with SiO condensing as cloud seeding nuclei. High-altitude clouds comprised of small SiO particles have been suggested in previous studies, therefore the SiO nucleation we potentially observe in PSO J318 could be a more wide-spread phenomenon.

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arXiv2021

A High-Contrast Search for Variability in HR 8799bc with VLT-SPHERE

The planets HR8799bc display nearly identical colours and spectra as variable young exoplanet analogues such as VHS 1256-1257ABb and PSO J318.5-22, and are likely to be similarly variable. Here we present results from a 5-epoch SPHERE IRDIS broadband-$H$ search for variability in these two planets. HR 8799b aperture photometry and HR 8799bc negative simulated planet photometry share similar trends within uncertainties. Satellite spot lightcurves share the same trends as the planet lightcurves in the August 2018 epochs, but diverge in the October 2017 epochs. We consider $Δ(mag)_{b} - Δ(mag)_{c}$ to trace non-shared variations between the two planets, and rule out non-shared variability in $Δ(mag)_{b} - Δ(mag)_{c}$ to the 10-20$\%$ level over 4-5 hours. To quantify our sensitivity to variability, we simulate variable lightcurves by inserting and retrieving a suite of simulated planets at similar radii from the star as HR 8799bc, but offset in position angle. For HR 8799b, for periods $<$10 hours, we are sensitive to variability with amplitude $>5\%$. For HR 8799c, our sensitivity is limited to variability $>25\%$ for similar periods.

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arXiv2020

Rotational spectral modulation of cloudless atmospheres for L/T Brown Dwarfs and Extrasolar Giant Planets

The rotational spectral modulation (spectro-photometric variability) of brown dwarfs is usually interpreted as a sign of the presence of inhomogeneous cloud covers in the atmosphere. This paper aims at exploring the role of temperature fluctuations in these spectral modulations. These fluctuations could naturally arise in a convective atmosphere impacted by diabatic processes such as complex chemistry, i.e. the recently proposed mechanism to explain the L/T transition: CO/CH4 radiative convection. We use the 1D radiative/convective code ATMO with ad-hoc modifications of the temperature gradient to model the rotational spectral modulation of 2MASS 1821, 2MASS 0136, and PSO 318.5-22. Modeling the spectral bright-to-faint ratio of the modulation of 2MASS 1821, 2MASS 0136, and PSO 318.5-22 shows that most spectral characteristics can be reproduced by temperature variations alone. Furthermore, the approximately anti-correlated variability between different wavelengths can be easily interpreted as a change in the temperature gradient in the atmosphere which is the consequence we expect from CO/CH4 radiative convection to explain the L/T transition. The deviation from an exact anti-correlation could then be interpreted as a phase shift similar to the hot-spot shift a different bandpasses in the atmosphere of hot Jupiters. Our results suggest that the rotational spectral modulation from cloud-opacity and temperature variations are degenerate. The detection of direct cloud spectral signatures, e.g. the silicate absorption feature at 10 um, would help to confirm the presence of clouds and their contribution to spectral modulations. Future studies looking at the differences in the spectral modulation of objects with and without the silicate absorption feature may give us some insight on how to distinguish cloud-opacity fluctuations from temperature fluctuations.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2020

Orbital and spectral characterization of the benchmark T-type brown dwarf HD 19467B

Context. Detecting and characterizing substellar companions for which the luminosity, mass, and age can be determined independently is of utter importance to test and calibrate the evolutionary models due to uncertainties in their formation mechanisms. HD 19467 is a bright and nearby star hosting a cool brown dwarf companion detected with RV and imaging, making it a valuable object for such studies. Aims. We aim to further characterize the orbital, spectral, and physical properties of the HD 19467 system. Methods. We present new high-contrast imaging data with the SPHERE and NaCo instruments. We also analyze archival data from HARPS, NaCo, HIRES, UVES, and ASAS. We also use proper motion data of the star from Hipparcos and Gaia. Results. We refine the properties of the host star and derive an age of 8.0$^{+2.0}_{-1.0}$ Gyr based on isochrones, gyrochronology, and chemical and kinematic arguments. This estimate is slightly younger than previous estimates of ~9-11 Gyr. No orbital curvature is seen in the current imaging, RV, and astrometric data. From a joint fit of the data, we refine the orbital parameters for HD 19467B: period 398$^{+95}_{-93}$ yr, inclination 129.8$^{+8.1}_{-5.1}$ deg, eccentricity 0.56$\pm$0.09, longitude of the ascending node 134.8$\pm$4.5 deg, and argument of the periastron 64.2$^{+5.5}_{-6.3}$ deg. We assess a dynamical mass of 74$^{+12}_{-9}$ MJ. The fit with atmospheric models of the spectrophotometric data of HD 19467B indicates an atmosphere without clouds or with very thin clouds, an effective temperature of 1042$^{+77}_{-71}$ K, and a large surface gravity of 5.34$^{+0.08}_{-0.09}$ dex. The comparison to model predictions of the bolometric luminosity and dynamical mass of HD 19467B, assuming our system age estimate, indicates a better agreement with the Burrows et al. models; whereas the other evolutionary models used tend to underestimate its cooling rate.

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arXiv2019

Constraining the properties of HD 206893 B. A combination of radial velocity, direct imaging, and astrometry data

High contrast imaging enables the determination of orbital parameters for substellar companions (planets, brown dwarfs) from the observed relative astrometry and the estimation of model and age-dependent masses from their observed magnitudes or spectra. Combining astrometric positions with radial velocity gives direct constraints on the orbit and on the dynamical masses of companions. A brown dwarf was discovered with the VLT/SPHERE instrument in 2017, which orbits at $\sim$ 11 au around HD 206893. Its mass was estimated between 12 and 50 $M_{Jup}$ from evolutionary models and its photometry. However, given the significant uncertainty on the age of the system and the peculiar spectrophotometric properties of the companion, this mass is not well constrained. We aim at constraining the orbit and dynamical mass of HD 206893 B. We combined radial velocity data obtained with HARPS spectra and astrometric data obtained with the high contrast imaging VLT/SPHERE and VLT/NaCo instruments, with a time baseline less than three years. We then combined those data with astrometry data obtained by Hipparcos and Gaia with a time baseline of 24 years. We used a MCMC approach to estimate the orbital parameters and dynamical mass of the brown dwarf from those data. We infer a period between 21 and 33° and an inclination in the range 20-41° from pole-on from HD 206893 B relative astrometry. The RV data show a significant RV drift over 1.6 yrs. We show that HD 206893 B cannot be the source of this observed RV drift as it would lead to a dynamical mass inconsistent with its photometry and spectra and with Hipparcos and Gaia data. An additional inner (semimajor axis in the range 1.4-2.6 au) and massive ($\sim$ 15 $M_{Jup}$) companion is needed to explain the RV drift, which is compatible with the available astrometric data of the star, as well as with the VLT/SPHERE and VLT/NaCo nondetection.

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arXiv2019

Hint of curvature in the orbital motion of the exoplanet 51 Eridani b using 3 years of VLT/SPHERE monitoring

Context. The 51 Eridani system harbors a complex architecture with its primary star forming a hierarchical system with the binary GJ 3305AB at a projected separation of 2000 au, a giant planet orbiting the primary star at 13 au, and a low-mass debris disk around the primary star with possibly a cold component and a warm component inferred from the spectral energy distribution. Aims. We aim to better constrain the orbital parameters of the known giant planet. Methods. We monitored the system over three years from 2015 to 2018 with the VLT/SPHERE exoplanet imaging instrument. Results. We measure an orbital motion for the planet of ~130 mas with a slightly decreasing separation (~10 mas) and find a hint of curvature. This potential curvature is further supported at 3$σ$ significance when including literature GPI astrometry corrected for calibration systematics. Fits of the SPHERE and GPI data using three complementary approaches provide broadly similar results. The data suggest an orbital period of 32$^{+17}_{-9}$ yr (i.e. 12$^{+4}_{-2}$ au in semi-major axis), an inclination of 133$^{+14}_{-7}$ deg, an eccentricity of 0.45$^{+0.10}_{-0.15}$, and an argument of periastron passage of 87$^{+34}_{-30}$ deg [mod 180 deg]. The time at periastron passage and the longitude of node exhibit bimodal distributions because we do not detect yet if the planet is accelerating or decelerating along its orbit. Given the inclinations of the planet's orbit and of the stellar rotation axis (134-144 deg), we infer alignment or misalignment within 18 deg for the star-planet spin-orbit. Further astrometric monitoring in the next 3-4 years is required to confirm at a higher significance the curvature in the planet's motion, determine if the planet is accelerating or decelerating on its orbit, and further constrain its orbital parameters and the star-planet spin-orbit.

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2017

Testing giant planet formation in the transitional disk of SAO 206462 using deep VLT/SPHERE imaging

Context. The SAO 206462 (HD 135344B) disk is one of the few known transitional disks showing asymmetric features in scattered light and thermal emission. Near-infrared scattered-light images revealed two bright outer spiral arms and an inner cavity depleted in dust. Giant protoplanets have been proposed to account for the disk morphology. Aims. We aim to search for giant planets responsible for the disk features and, in the case of non-detection, to constrain recent planet predictions using the data detection limits. Methods. We obtained new high-contrast and high-resolution total intensity images of the target spanning the Y to the K bands (0.95-2.3 mic) using the VLT/SPHERE near-infrared camera and integral field spectrometer. Results. The spiral arms and the outer cavity edge are revealed at high resolutions and sensitivities without the need for image post-processing techniques, which introduce photometric biases. We do not detect any close-in companions. For the derivation of the detection limits on putative giant planets embedded in the disk, we show that the knowledge of the disk aspect ratio and viscosity is critical for the estimation of the attenuation of a planet signal by the protoplanetary dust because of the gaps that these putative planets may open. Given assumptions on these parameters, the mass limits can vary from ~2-5 to ~4-7 Jupiter masses at separations beyond the disk spiral arms. The SPHERE detection limits are more stringent than those derived from archival NaCo/L' data and provide new constraints on a few recent predictions of massive planets (4-15 MJ) based on the spiral density wave theory. The SPHERE and ALMA data do not favor the hypotheses on massive giant planets in the outer disk (beyond 0.6). There could still be low-mass planets in the outer disk and/or planets inside the cavity.

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arXiv2017

Spectral and atmospheric characterization of 51 Eridani b using VLT/SPHERE

51 Eridani b is an exoplanet around a young (20 Myr) nearby (29.4 pc) F0-type star, recently discovered by direct imaging. Being only 0.5" away from its host star it is well suited for spectroscopic analysis using integral field spectrographs. We aim to refine the atmospheric properties of this and to further constrain the architecture of the system by searching for additional companions. Using the SPHERE instrument at the VLT we extend the spectral coverage of the planet to the complete Y- to H-band range and provide photometry in the K12-bands (2.11, 2.25 micron). The object is compared to other cool and peculiar dwarfs. Furthermore, the posterior probability distributions of cloudy and clear atmospheric models are explored using MCMC. We verified our methods by determining atmospheric parameters for the two benchmark brown dwarfs Gl 570D and HD 3651B. For probing the innermost region for additional companions, archival VLT-NACO (L') SAM data is used. We present the first spectrophotometric measurements in the Y- and K-bands for the planet and revise its J-band flux to values 40% fainter than previous measurements. Cloudy models with uniform cloud coverage provide a good match to the data. We derive the temperature, radius, surface gravity, metallicity and cloud sedimentation parameter f_sed. We find that the atmosphere is highly super-solar (Fe/H~1.0) with an extended, thick cloud cover of small particles. The model radius and surface gravity suggest planetary masses of about 9 M_jup. The evolutionary model only provides a lower mass limit of >2 M_jup (for pure hot-start). The cold-start model cannot explain the planet's luminosity. The SPHERE and NACO/SAM detection limits probe the 51 Eri system at Solar System scales and exclude brown-dwarf companions more massive than 20 M_jup beyond separations of ~2.5 au and giant planets more massive than 2 M_jup beyond 9 au.

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2015

The LEECH Exoplanet Imaging Survey. Further constraints on the planet architecture of the HR 8799 system

Context. Astrometric monitoring of directly-imaged exoplanets allows the study of their orbital parameters and system architectures. Because most directly-imaged planets have long orbital periods (>20 AU), accurate astrometry is challenging when based on data acquired on timescales of a few years and usually with different instruments. The LMIRCam camera on the LBT is being used for the LEECH survey to search for and characterize young and adolescent exoplanets in L' band, including their system architectures. Aims. We first aim to provide a good astrometric calibration of LMIRCam. Then, we derive new astrometry, test the predictions of the orbital model of 8:4:2:1 mean motion resonance proposed by Goździewski & Migaszewski, and perform new orbital fitting of the HR 8799 bcde planets. We also present deep limits on a putative fifth planet interior to the known planets. Methods. We use observations of HR 8799 and the Theta1 Ori C field obtained during the same run in October 2013. Results. We first characterize the distortion of LMIRCam. We determine a platescale and a true north orientation for the images of 10.707 +/- 0.012 mas/pix and -0.430 +/- 0.076 deg, respectively. The errors on the platescale and true north orientation translate into astrometric accuracies at a separation of 1 of 1.1 mas and 1.3 mas, respectively. The measurements for all planets are usually in agreement within 3 sigma with the ephemeris predicted by Goździewski & Migaszewski. The orbital fitting based on the new astrometric measurements favors an architecture for the planetary system based on 8:4:2:1 mean motion resonance. The detection limits allow us to exclude a fifth planet slightly brighter/more massive than HR 8799 b at the location of the 2:1 resonance with HR 8799 e (~9.5 AU) and about twice as bright as HR 8799 cde at the location of the 3:1 resonance with HR 8799 e (~7.5 AU).

astro-ph.EP↗
arXiv2006

Discovery of a Very Nearby Brown Dwarf to the Sun: A Methane Rich Brown Dwarf Companion to the Low Mass Star SCR 1845-6357

We present VLT/NACO SDI images of the very nearby star SCR 1845-6357 (hereafter SCR 1845). SCR 1845 is a recently discovered (Hambly et al. 2004) M8.5 star just 3.85 pc from the sun (Henry et al. 2006). Using the capabilities of the unique SDI device, we discovered a substellar companion to SCR 1845 at a separation of 4.5 AU (1.170''+-0.003'' on the sky) and fainter by 3.57+-0.057 mag in the 1.575 um SDI filter. This substellar companion has an H magnitude of 13.16+0.31-0.26 (absolute H magnitude of 15.30+0.31-0.26), making it likely the brightest mid-T dwarf known. The unique Simultaneous Differential Imager (SDI) consists of 3 narrowband filters placed around the 1.6 um methane absorption feature characteristic of T-dwarfs (Teff < 1200 K). The flux of the substellar companion drops by a factor of 2.7+-0.1 between the SDI F1(1.575 um) filter and the SDI F3(1.625 um) filter, consistent with strong methane absorption in a substellar companion. We estimate a spectral type of T5.5+-1 for the companion based on the strength of this methane break. The chances that this object is a background T dwarf are vanishing small -- and there is no isolated background T-dwarf in this part of the sky according to 2MASS. Thus, it is a bound companion, hereafter SCR 1845-6357B. For an age range of 100 Myr - 10 Gyr and spectral type range of T4.5-T6.5, we find a mass range of 9 - 65 MJup for SCR 1845B from the Baraffe et al. 2003 COND models. SCR 1845AB is the 24th closest stellar system to the Sun (at 3.85 pc); the only brown dwarf system closer to the Sun is Eps Indi Ba-Bb (at 3.626 pc). In addition, this is the first T-dwarf companion discovered around a low mass star.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2005

AB Doradus C: Age, Spectral Type, Orbit, and Comparison to Evolutionary Models

We expand upon the results of Close et al. 2005 regarding the young, low-mass object AB Dor C and its role as a calibration point for theoretical tracks. We present an improved spectral reduction and a new orbital solution with two additional epochs. Our improved analysis confirms our spectral type of M8 (+/- 1) and mass of 0.090+/-0.003 solar masses for AB Dor C. Comparing the results for AB Dor C with other young, low-mass objects with dynamical masses we find a general trend where current evolutionary models tend to over-predict the temperature (or under-predict the mass) for low mass stars and brown dwarfs. Given our precision, there is a ~99% chance that the mass of AB Dor C is underestimated by the DUSTY tracks in the HR diagram.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2005

Chandra Observations of MBM12 and Models of the Local Bubble

Chandra observations toward the nearby molecular cloud MBM12 show unexpectedly strong and nearly equal foreground O VIII and O VII emission. As the observed portion of MBM12 is optically thick at these energies, the emission lines must be formed nearby, coming either from the Local Bubble (LB) or charge exchange with ions from the Sun. Equilibrium models for the LB predict stronger O VII than O VIII, so these results suggest that the LB is far from equilibrium or a substantial portion of O VIII is from another source, such as charge exchange within the Solar system. Despite the likely contamination, we can combine our results with other EUV and X-ray observations to reject LB models which posit a cool recombining plasma as the source of LB X-rays.

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arXiv2004

High Resolution Mid - Infrared Imaging of the AGB Star RV Boo with the Steward Observatory Adaptive Optics System

We present high resolution (~0.1"), very high Strehl ratio (0.97+-0.03) mid-infrared (IR) adaptive optics (AO) images of the AGB star RV Boo utilizing the MMT adaptive secondary AO system. RV Boo was observed at a number of wavelengths over two epochs (9.8 um in May 2003, 8.8, 9.8 and 11.7 um in February 2004) and appeared slightly extended at all wavelengths. While the extension is very slight at 8.8 and 11.7 um data, the extension is somewhat more pronounced at 9.8 um. With such high Strehls we can achieve super-resolutions of 0.1" by deconvolving RV Boo with a point-spread function (PSF) derived from an unresolved star. We tentatively resolve RV Boo into a 0.16" FWHM extension at a position angle of 120 degrees. At a distance of 390(+250)(-100) pc, this corresponds to a FWHM of 60(+40)(-15) AU. We measure a total flux at 9.8 um of 145+-24 Jy for the disk and star. Based on a dust thermal emission model for the observed IR spectral energy distribution and the 9.8 um AO image, we derive a disk dust mass of 1.6x10^-6 Msun and an inclination of 30 to 45 degrees from edge-on. We discuss whether the dust disk observed around RV Boo is an example of the early stages in the formation of asymmetric structure in planetary nebula.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2004

Hot Gas Structure in the Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4472

We present X-ray spectroscopic and morphological analyses using Chandra ACIS and ROSAT observations of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4472 in the Virgo cluster. We discuss previously unobserved X-ray structures within the extended galactic corona. In the inner 2' of the galaxy, we find X-ray holes or cavities with radii of ~2 kpc, corresponding to the position of radio lobes. These holes were produced during a period of nuclear activity that began 1.2 x 10^7 years ago and may be ongoing. We also find an asymmetrical edge in the galaxy X-ray emission 3' (14 kpc) northeast of the core and an ~8' tail (36 kpc) extending southwest of the galaxy. These two features probably result from the interaction of NGC 4472 gas with the Virgo gas, which produces compression in the direction of NGC 4472's infall and an extended tail from ram pressure stripping. Assuming the tail is in pressure equilibrium with the surrounding gas, we compute its angle to our line of sight and estimate that its true extent exceeds 100 kpc. Finally, in addition to emission from the nucleus (first detected by Soldatenkov, Vikhlinin & Pavlinsky), we detect two small extended sources within 10'' of the nucleus of the galaxy, both of which have luminosities of ~7 x 10^38 erg/s.

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