SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Christian Ginski

Publications and source records attributed to Christian Ginski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Planetary gas gaps and kinematic signatures in the planet forming disk around WISPIT 2

The giant planet formation process in disks of gas and dust surrounding young stars is observationally still poorly constrained. Direct detection of protoplanets within the disk remains limited with current facilities. Indirect observational evidence of protoplanets through substructures or deviations from Keplerian rotation in the gas remains ambiguous in absence of detected planets. The lack of the combined detection of substructures and their corresponding planets makes it challenging to connect the planet formation process to the host environment. Observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) reveal clear detections of gas gaps and kinematic signatures in the WISPIT 2 protoplanetary disk that are cospatial with the locations of previously detected giant protoplanets. The newly identified gas gaps, observed in both the 12CO integrated intensity map and its rotation curve, correspond with the previously identified gaps in scattered light. Their morphologies are shown to be consistent with eccentric gaps, as expected from planet-disk interaction models of massive planets. The lack of eccentricity in the outer disk can be explained if a third planet is present in the system. The observations of WISPIT 2 provide a long-sought empirical bridge between kinematic signatures, gas gaps and giant planet formation in disks.

astro-ph.EP

A Streamer Driving Misalignment in the Circumtriple Disk of GW Ori

GW Orionis is a triple stellar system with a disk featuring three misaligned dust rings. We present ALMA molecular line data of CO isotopologues, revealing a streamer feeding the disk in $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO. Through multi-pointing observations, we find the streamer extends to $\sim30''$ on-sky ($\sim12,000$~AU) and estimate a mass of 1.6 M$_{\rm Jup}$ using $^{13}$CO. Fitting the morphology and kinematics of the streamer, we estimate the mass infall timescale of 0.04 Myrs and a mass infall rate of $3.6\times10^{-8}$~M$_{\odot}$~yr$^{-1}$, approximately an order of magnitude lower than the stellar accretion rate. Our best-fit trajectory shows that the streamer meets the disk at the outermost dust ring and that the streamer's angular momentum vector is closely aligned with this outermost ring within $\approx3^\circ$, in contrast to the $\approx32^\circ$ misalignment with the innermost ring, suggesting the streamer is the likely cause of the misalignment. However, the total angular momentum of the streamer is smaller than that of GW Ori's disk; this, together with the low accretion rate, indicates that we are probably witnessing the end stages of infall. Total Power observations reveal bright emission connecting the streamer to the surrounding star-forming region, with a projected distance falling well within the Bondi-Hoyle radius, implying the streamer could have originated through Bondi-Hoyle accretion as GW Ori moves through its natal cloud. Together, these results suggest that GW Ori remains dynamically linked to its parental cloud through ongoing accretion, with the streamer serving as the likely driver of its misaligned disk structure.

astro-ph.EP

Diverse dust vertical height and settling strength conditions in protoplanetary discs

The settling of dust particles plays a critical role in the growth and dynamics of dust grains. We performed a detailed modeling of the ALMA continuum substructures for six highly inclined protoplanetary discs using radiative transfer simulations, to constrain the vertical height of millimetre dust grains and the settling strength. Our modeling results are a very thin millimetre dust disc in T Cha ($\text{h}_{\text{dust}}<$ 0.1 au throughout the disc), a vertically extended dust disc in DoAr 25 ($\text{h}_{\text{dust}}$ of $\sim$ 4.7 au at 140 au) and tentatively a thin disc in MY Lup ($\text{h}_{\text{dust}}<$ 0.5 au at 70 au). From lower resolution observations we found a very thin disc for PDS 111 ($\text{h}_{\text{dust}}<$ 0.1 au throughout the disc) and a more vertically extended millimetre dust disc in V409 Tau ($\text{h}_{\text{dust}}$ of $\sim$ 1.3 au at 35 au). We could not measure the vertical height in the asymmetric disc of RY Lup. We also found that the input dust opacities are a source of degeneracy in our models. Our tentative results, assuming the Ricci dust opacities, point to a diverse settling strength in our sample and possible radial variations. We also compared the models that best fit the ALMA data with the SPHERE data to test if they can reproduce the vertical distribution of small dust grains. This comparison suggests that models that reproduce the dust density distribution in the midplane cannot reproduce the distribution of small dust grains in the upper layers, reinforcing the need for more complex models.

astro-ph.EP

Probing dust properties through polarized scattered-light images of a sample of ring-shaped protoplanetary disks

The evolution of protoplanetary disks, especially in the early stages of planetary formation, as dust grows, is the cornerstone of the birth of planets. The mechanisms involved in the growth of sub-micrometric dust grains into planetesimals within a very short time frame are a challenging field of study, while the initial conditions remain relatively undefined. One of the main challenges is to unambiguously identify the dust properties within the disk, and our goal is to break this barrier by investigating the light scattered by dust particles lying on the protoplanetary disk surface from many recent promising observations. In this study, we used a set of 30 polarized light images composed of new VLT/SPHERE observations to examine the light scattered by dust grains. For each ring-shaped system, we used the new DRAGyS tool to estimate the disk geometry using the substructures visible on the surface and to extract the limb-brightening-corrected scattering phase function, which encodes the dust grains' physical properties. Finally, we compared our results with the AggScatVIR database of numerical scattering phase functions of nonspherical dust. We combined our measurements of disk geometry to estimate an average disk flaring of about 1.357. First, we recovered the two categories of scattering phase functions based on their shape, as determined in previous studies. Category I is monotonically decreasing and can be explained by fractal organic aggregates with small monomers of 100nm, or compact aggregates with medium porosity and big monomers of 400nm. Category II is defined by a bell-shaped scattering phase function and can be explained by sub-micrometric irregular grains or compact aggregates with low porosity. This statistical study offers general trends about dust populations, but the degeneracy is too strong to apply this method to a unique disk analysis.

astro-ph.SR

Direct spectroscopic confirmation of the young embedded proto-planet WISPIT 2c

WISPIT 2 is a nearby young star with a multi-ringed disk which was recently confirmed to host a ~4.9 MJup gas giant planet embedded in a large (60 au) gap at a radial separation of 57 au from the host star. We confirm and characterise a second, close-in planet in the WISPIT 2 system using a combination of new VLT/SPHERE H-band dual-polarisation imaging and VLTI/GRAVITY K-band interferometric observations of the WISPIT 2 system. The GRAVITY detection is consistent with a point-like source while its extracted K-band spectrum shows CO band-head absorption at 2.3 microns and a continuum shape consistent with a young giant planet. From the GRAVITY data we extract a medium resolution K-band spectrum of the companion and fit atmospheric model grids using the species tool with nested sampling to constrain its effective temperature, radius, and luminosity. We infer Teff of 1500-2600 K, a radius of 0.91-2.2 RJup, and a luminosity of (-3.47)-(-3.63). Comparison with evolutionary tracks implies a mass range of 8-12 MJup, approximately twice as massive as the previously confirmed WISPIT 2b. The astrometry rules out a background source and marginally detects orbital motion of WISPIT 2c, which needs further follow-up observations for confirmation. WISPIT 2 now becomes an analogue to PDS 70, offering a second laboratory for studying the formation and early evolution of a multi-planet system within its natal disk.

astro-ph.EP

Planet-forming disks and their environment across regions and time from the full NIR census

The evolution of planet-forming disks and the processes of planet formation influence each other, and both of them are possibly impacted by the local environment. Extensive high-resolution imagery of disks across space and time is the best tool for determining their evolution. We compiled a comprehensive list of disk-bearing young stars with near-IR high-contrast images available. The sample sums up to 268 sources, including 51 targets with no prior publications, which makes this study the largest of its kind and the most extensive release of IR disk images to date. Our census reveals very diverse disk and ambient morphologies. Disks in Lupus are bright, in Chamaeleon are faint, in Corona Australis and Taurus are frequently surrounded by ambient emission. Disks experience an abrupt increase in IR brightness between 2 Myr and 5 Myr. The earliest IR disk cavities around single stars arise after 2-3 Myr explaining why are young disks faint in the near-IR, and determining which disks can live longer. Well-known, high-longevity disks (>8 Myr) are always bright. Ambient material is detected in more than 20% of young sources but the fraction drops with time. We find a clear correspondence for the presence of ambient material with the stellar variability, near-IR excess, and mass accretion rate as well as, in turn, with spirals and shadows in disks. Half of the disks with ambient material show spirals while none of them show rings. We therefore propose that the spirals and the disk warps responsible for shadows are generally induced by late infall from the medium, and that this also affects the stellar accretion. The emerging picture proves the fundamental role of the environment for the disk evolution and planet formation.

astro-ph.SR

Young system development in a cometary globule: An investigation into the eccentric disk around AT Pyx in terms of planet-formation and interaction with its surrounding environment

This paper presents new data and analyses of the AT Pyx system, a disk-hosting young star located in a cometary globule in the Gum Nebula. This radiation-driven structure is an unusual environment for observations of planet formation and differs greatly from the low-mass star-forming regions disks are most commonly observed in. Aided by a collection of visual and spectroscopic data available for this system, this paper aims to infer the possibility of embedded planets existing within the disk and how the system's environment may affect its disk morphology. Using data from the VLT's instruments XSHOOTER, ESPRESSO and - most prominently - SPHERE along with data from ALMA, we make a variety of measurements (geometric, photometric and otherwise) to characterise the observed disk features and attributes such as spiral arms and eccentricity. Mapping of the velocity components is also undertaken using the ALMA gas line data to characterise disk orientation and determine the likelihood that the system is experiencing a late-stage infall event. The disk is found to be eccentric when deprojected. Under the assumption that the formation of a planet is wholly responsible for the primary and secondary spiral arms, we find the mass of such a planet can range between 0.004 and 3 Jupiter masses. Measurement of the velocities associated with nearby globule cloud material returns reasonable velocities for a late-stage infall event. We estimate far-ultraviolet field strength at AT Pyx's location to be low in comparison to other surveyed disks. We also find that AT Pyx is possibly a binary system. AT Pyx is the first disk within a cometary globule to be spatially resolved, and is now the first such disk to be investigated to this extent. The work of this paper could potentially be a first step into the further study of disks in the moderate-FUV environment of the Gum Nebula and its globules.

astro-ph.EP

Imaging the LkCa 15 system in polarimetry and total intensity without self-subtraction artefacts

Studying young protoplanetary disks is essential for understanding planet formation, but traditional angular differential imaging can introduce self-subtraction artefacts that hinder interpretation of small-scale structures. We present high-resolution total- and polarized-intensity Ks-band images of the LkCa~15 system obtained with SPHERE using near-simultaneous reference-star differential imaging (star-hopping), yielding self-subtraction-free images beyond 0.1 arcsec. LkCa~15 hosts a ~160 au protoplanetary disk and has previously been reported to harbour candidate protoplanets at separations of 15--18 au. We analyse the disk morphology and dust properties and search for super-Jupiter planets beyond 20 au. We first model the near-infrared scattered-light images together with ALMA submillimetre continuum data using RADMC-3D and a two grain-size (micron and millimetre) compact olivine model. While this model broadly reproduces the disk geometry, it overpredicts the degree of forward scattering in the near-infrared. To investigate this discrepancy, we extract the scattering phase function S(theta) and polarized fraction P(theta) from the SPHERE data and compare them with aggregate-scattering models. The observed phase functions disfavour compact Mie spheres and are better matched by porous aggregates (CAHP). Recomputing the scattered-light models with porous CAHP grains in the disk surface layer significantly improves agreement with the observed Ks-band morphology and polarization, while retaining compact millimetre grains to reproduce the ALMA continuum. No new planetary companions are detected; we place upper mass limits of ~1.5 MJ beyond 200 au and ~3.6 MJ in the inner disk. Our results demonstrate that combining star-hopping imaging with phase-function diagnostics provides strong constraints on dust grain properties in protoplanetary disks.

astro-ph.EP

Disk Evolution Study Through Imaging of Nearby Young Stars (DESTINYS): V721 CrA and BN CrA have wide and structured disks in polarised IR

We present near-infrared scattered-light observations of the disks around two stars of the Corona Australis star-forming region, V721 CrA, and BN CrA, obtained with VLT/SPHERE, in the H band, as part of the DESTINYS large programme. Our objective is to analyse the morphology of these disks, and highlight their main properties. We adopt an analytical axisymmetric disk model to fit the observations and perform a regression on key disk parameters, namely the dust mass, the height profile, and the inclination. We use RADMC-3D code to produce synthetic observations of the analytical models, with full polarised scattering treatment. Both stars show resolved and extended disks with substructures in the near-IR. The disk of V721 CrA is vertically thicker, radially smaller (120 au), and brighter than BN CrA (190 au). It also shows spiral arms in the inner regions. The disk of BN CrA shows a dark circular lane, which could be either an intrinsic dust gap or a self-cast shadow. Both disks are compatible with the evolutionary stage of their parent subgroup within the CrA region: V721 CrA belongs to the "on-cloud" part of CrA, which is dustier, denser and younger, whereas BN CrA is found on the outskirts of the older "off-cloud" group.

astro-ph.SR

YSES 2b is a background star: Differential astrometric M-dwarf measurements in time

We wish to confirm the nature of YSES 2b, a purportedly faint companion of the young star YSES 2. We used on-sky observations from SPHERE and GRAVITY to measure the astrometric position of 2b with respect to the star YSES 2, and examined the competing hypotheses of (i) a bound substellar companion versus (ii) a distant unrelated background source with a non-zero proper motion. YSES 2b appears to be a late-type M-dwarf star over 2 kiloparsecs behind the star YSES 2. It has a transverse velocity of about 300 km/s and is located within one of the spiral arms of the Galaxy. The main discriminant was multiple epochs of GRAVITY astrometry that identified the sub-milliarcsecond parallactic motion of the star.

astro-ph.EP

Radiative Transfer Modeling of a Shadowed Protoplanetary Disk assisted by a Neural Network

We present observations and detailed modeling of a protoplanetary disk around the T Tauri star, V1098 Sco. Millimeter wavelength data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) show a ring of large dust grains with a central cavity that is filled with molecular gas. Near-infrared data with the Very Large Telescope (VLT) detect the scattered starlight from the disk surface and reveal a large shadow that extends over it's entire southern half. We model the ALMA continuum and line data to determine the outer disk geometry and the central stellar mass. Using radiative transfer models, we demonstrate that a misaligned inner disk, tilted in both inclination and position angle with respect to the outer disk, can reproduce the salient scattered light features seen with the VLT. Applying an image threshold algorithm to compare disk morphologies and training a neural network on a set of high signal-to-noise models, we forward model the data and determine the inner disk geometry. We find that the rotation axes of the inner and outer disks are misaligned by 38 degrees and constrain the mass and location of a perturbing planetary or substellar companion. The technique of simulation based inference that is illustrated here is broadly applicable for radiative transfer modeling of other objects.

astro-ph.EP

Wide Separation Planets In Time (WISPIT): Discovery of a Gap H$\alpha$ Protoplanet WISPIT 2b with MagAO-X

Excellent (<25 mas) H$_{\alpha}$ images of the star TYC 5709-354-1 led to the discovery of a rare H$_{\alpha}$ protoplanet. This star was discovered by the WISPIT survey to have a large multi-ring transitional disk, and is hereafter WISPIT 2. Our H$_{\alpha}$ images of 2025, April 13 and April 16 discovered an accreting (H$_{\alpha}$ in emission) protoplanet: WISPIT 2b (r=309.43$\pm$1.56 mas; (~54 au deprojected), PA=242.21$\pm$0.41 degrees) likely clearing a dust-free gap between the two brightest dust rings in the transitional disk. Our SNR=12.5 detection gave an H$_{\alpha}$ ASDI contrast of (6.5$\pm$0.5)x10$^{-4}$ and a H$_{\alpha}$ line flux of (1.29$\pm$0.28)x10$^{-15}$ erg/s/cm$^2$. We also present L' photometry from LBT/LMIRcam of the planet (L'=15.30$\pm$0.05 mag) which, when coupled with an age of 5.1$^{+2.4}_{-1.3}$ Myr, yields a planet mass estimate of 5.3$\pm$1.0 Mjup from the DUSTY evolutionary models. WISPIT 2b is accreting at 2.25$^{-0.17}_{+3.75}$x10$^{-12}$ Msun/yr. WISPIT 2b is very similar to the other H$_{\alpha}$ protoplanets in terms of mass, age, flux, and accretion rate. The inclination of the system (${\it i}$=44 degrees) is also, surprisingly, very similar to the other known H$\alpha$ protoplanet systems which all cluster from 37$\leq{\it i}\leq$52 degrees. We argue this clustering has only a ~1.0% (2.6 sigma) probability of occurring randomly, and so we speculate that magnetospherical accretion might have a preferred inclination range (~37-52 degrees) for the direct (cloud free, low extinction) line of sight to the H-alpha line formation/shock region. We also find at 110mas (~15au deprojected) a close companion candidate (CC1) which may be consistent with an inner dusty 9$\pm$4 Mjup planet.

astro-ph.EP

WIde Separation Planets In Time (WISPIT): A Gap-clearing Planet in a Multi-ringed Disk around the Young Solar-type Star WISPIT 2

In the past decades several thousand exoplanet systems have been discovered around evolved, main-sequence stars, revealing a wide diversity in their architectures. To understand how the planet formation process can lead to vastly different outcomes in system architecture we have to study the starting conditions of planet formation within the disks around young stars. In this study we are presenting high resolution direct imaging observations with VLT/SPHERE of the young ($\sim$5 Myr), nearby ($\sim$133 pc), solar-analog designated as WISPIT 2($=$ TYC~5709-354-1). These observations were taken as part of our survey program that explores the formation and orbital evolution of wide-separation gas giants. WISPIT 2 was observed in four independent epochs using polarized light and total intensity observations. They reveal for the first time an extended (380 au) disk in scattered light with a multi-ringed sub-structure. We directly detect a young proto-planet WISPIT 2b, embedded in a disk gap and show that it is co-moving with its host star. Multiple SPHERE epochs demonstrate that it shows orbital motion consistent with Keplerian motion in the observed disk gap. Our $H$ and $K_s$-band photometric data are consistent with thermal emission from a young planet. By comparison with planet evolutionary models, we find a mass of the planet of $4.9^{+0.9}_{-0.6}$ Jupiter masses. This mass is also consistent with the width of the observed disk gap, retrieved from hydrodynamic models. WISPIT 2b is the first unambiguous planet detection in a multi-ringed disk, making the WISPIT 2 system the ideal laboratory to study planet-disk interaction and subsequent evolution.

astro-ph.EP

WIde Separation Planets In Time (WISPIT): Two directly imaged exoplanets around the Sun-like stellar binary WISPIT 1

Wide separation gas giant planets present a challenge to current planet formation theories, and the detection and characterisation of these systems enables us to constrain their formation pathways. The WIde Separation Planets In Time (WISPIT) survey aims to detect and characterise wide separation planetary-mass companions over a range of ages from <5 to 20 Myr around solar-type host stars at distances of 75-500 (median: 140) parsecs. The WISPIT survey carries out two 5 minute H-band exposures with the VLT/SPHERE instrument and IRDIS camera, separated by at least six months to identify co-moving companions via proper motion analysis. These two H-band observations in combination with a follow-up Ks-band observation were used to determine the colour-magnitude of the co-moving companions and to derive their masses by comparing to AMES-COND and AMES-DUSTY evolutionary tracks. We report the discovery of WISPIT 1b and WISPIT 1c, two gas giant exoplanets that are co-moving with the stellar binary WISPIT 1, which itself consists of a K4 star and M5.5 star in a multi-decadal orbit. The planets are at projected separations of 338 au and 840 au and have masses of 10 Mj and 4 Mj respectively. We identified two common proper motion planetary companions to a (previously unknown) stellar binary with a Sun-like primary. These targets are ideal for follow up characterisation with both ground and space-based telescopes. Monitoring of the orbit with the GRAVITY interferometer will place constraints on their eccentricity, and spectroscopic characterisation will identify the composition and metallicity, providing information on their formation pathways.

astro-ph.EP

Grand Design Spiral Arms in the Compact, Embedded Protoplanetary Disk of Haro 6-13

Millimeter continuum spiral arms have so far only been detected in a handful of protoplanetary disks, and thus we have a limited understanding of the circumstances in which they can form. In particular, substructures in small disks ($R\lessapprox 50$ au) have not been well-characterized in comparison with large disks. We present ALMA 1.3 mm continuum observations of the disk around the T Tauri star Haro 6-13 at a resolution of $\sim0.04''$ ($\sim5$ au). A pair of low-contrast spiral arms are detected at disk radii from $\sim10-35$ au. They can be approximated as Archimedean spirals with pitch angles ranging from $\sim10-30^\circ$. The low value of the disk-averaged spectral index between 1.3 and 3 mm ($\alpha=2.1$) and the high brightness temperatures suggest that the millimeter continuum is likely optically thick and thus may hide sufficient mass for the disk to become gravitationally unstable and form spiral arms. CO observations have shown that Haro 6-13 is surrounded by an envelope, raising the possibility that infall is facilitating spiral arm formation.

astro-ph.EP

Peering through the veil: Investigating protoplanetary disk outer edges using backside visibility

Protoplanetary disks observed in scattered light reveal essential insights into the disk's three-dimensional architecture and dust properties. These disks, which play a crucial role in planet formation, have complex structures where the visibility of the disk's backside can vary significantly based on several parameters. This study aims to explore the factors impacting backside visibility in protoplanetary disks, particularly under variations in inclination, dust distribution, grain characteristics, and outer disk morphology. Using RADMC-3D radiative transfer simulations, we investigate how these variables influence the appearance of the backside in scattered light images. Tapered disk models with exponential tapers, frequently obscure the backside, which supports the rarity of observed backside features. In cases where backside features are visible at lower inclinations, they likely indicate cut-off disks, as backside detection is challenging in standard tapered models at these inclinations. Additionally, factors like dust mass, grain distribution, and disk material stratification play crucial roles in backside observability, affecting its potential detection in real observations. This study contributes to understanding the detectability of the backside in protoplanetary disks, with implications for refining observational strategies and interpreting backside features in scattered light images. These findings help frame backside visibility as a critical aspect of assessing disk structure and evolution.

astro-ph.EP

A planetary-mass candidate imaged in the Young Suns Exoplanet Survey

Directly imaged exoplanets in wide orbits challenge current gas giant formation theories. They need to form quickly and acquire enough material before the disk dissipates, which cannot be accommodated by in-situ formation by core accretion. We search for wide separation ($>$ 100 au) planetary-mass companions with the Young Suns Exoplanet Survey (YSES). Here, we present a planetary-mass candidate companion discovered in the survey. We conducted follow-up observations of the candidate system after the first epoch observations and obtained six epochs of observations for this system between 2018 and 2024, and integral field spectroscopy of the stellar component. We report the detection of a candidate companion with H=22.04 $\pm$ 0.13 mag at a projected separation of 730 $\pm$ 10 au away from the primary star. High angular resolution imaging observations of the central star show it is a visual binary. Acceleration data, orbital fitting, spectral energy distribution fitting and radial velocity differences all suggest that there is at least one more unresolved low-mass stellar companion in this system. The planetary-mass candidate shows a significant proper motion comparable to that of the primary star. We estimate an age of 19-28 Myr for the primary star. We cannot confirm the companionship of the candidate due to the unknown barycentre of the stars. Long-term imaging and radial velocity monitoring of the central stars, along with spectroscopy of the candidate companion, are key to resolving the nature of this system. If confirmed, the candidate companion would have a mass of 3-5 Mj estimated with the ATMO evolutionary model. It would be another cold low-mass planet imaged similar to 51 Eri b and AF Lep b. Its extremely wide separation from the host star would challenge the formation theory of gas giant exoplanets.

astro-ph.EP

A benchmark companion at the hydrogen-burning limit imaged in the core cluster of the Fornax-Horologium association

Low-mass stellar and substellar companions are indispensable objects for verifying evolutionary models that transition from low-mass stars to planets. Their formation is likely also affected by the surrounding stellar environment. The Fornax-Horologium (FH) association is a recently classified young association in the solar neighbourhood with a dissolving open cluster in its centre. It has not been searched widely for substellar companions and exoplanets with direct imaging. We search for companions of stars in the FH and investigate the formation and evolution of companions during the expansion and dissolution of a star cluster. We conduct a direct-imaging survey of 49 stars in FH with VLT/SPHERE. We present HD 24121B, a companion at the hydrogen-burning limit that orbits star HD 24121 in the core cluster of the FH. The companion is located at a projected angular separation of 2.082 $\pm$ 0.004 arcsec from the central star and has contrasts of $\Delta$H2 = 5.07 $\pm$ 0.05 mag and $\Delta$H3= 4.98 $\pm$ 0.05 mag. We estimate a photometric mass of 74.9 $\pm$ 7.5 $M_J$ for HD 24121B, which places it at the boundary of brown dwarfs and low-mass stars. It is a new benchmark object for evolutionary models at the hydrogen-burning boundary, especially at the age of 30 - 40 Myr. Orbital fitting with joint Gaia and SPHERE relative astrometry found a high eccentricity for HD 24121B. This suggests that it may have undergone dynamic scattering. Future chemical composition measurements such as high-resolution spectroscopic observations will provide more clues on its formation history.

astro-ph.SR