An Imaging Survey for Extrasolar Planets around 45 Close, Young Stars with the Simultaneous Differential Imager at the Very Large Telescope and MMT

Abstract

We present the results of a survey of 45 young ( <150 pc), extremely young ( ~10 mag (5 σ) at a separation of 0.5" from the primary star on 45% of our targets and H-band contrasts>~9 mag at a separation of 0.5" on 80% of our targets. With these contrasts, we can image (5 σ detection) a 7 MJ planet 15 AU from a 70 Myr K1 star at 15 pc or a 7.8 MJ planet at 2 AU from a 12 Myr M star at 10 pc. We detected no candidates with S/N>2 σ which behaved consistently like a real object. From our survey null result, we can rule out (with 93% confidence) a model planet population where N(a)~constant out to a distance of 45 AU. Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.