Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Erin Abraham, PhD candidate Saida Caballero-Nieves, Faculty
Lead Presenter's Name
Erin Abraham
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Saida Caballero-Nieves
Abstract
Over 90% of massive stars have one or more companions. The binary systems we have observed tend to skew to near-equal masses between the primary and the companion stars. We have not been able to resolve many extreme mass-ratio binaries, leading us to pursue different detection methods.
We present an analysis of seven massive stars in the young, active star-forming region M17 (d = 1.7 kpc) using data from VLT SPHERE. SPHERE is uniquely capable of probing the lower end of the binary mass-ratio due to its ground-breaking extreme adaptive optics and coronagraphic capabilities which allow us to achieve greater contrast ratios than traditional adaptive optics. We utilized SPHERE's high-contrast imaging to resolve milliarcsecond binary systems and detect subsolar mass stellar companions to massive stars. Using SPHERE’s simultaneous dual-band imaging and IFS, we detected over 100 potential companions for the seven target stars and measured the position angle, angular separation, and contrast magnitude for each potential companion. The potential companions had contrast ratios ranging from 5 to 13 mag in the infrared. Previous radial velocity studies in M17 found fewer binary systems than expected. Our study is complementary to previous work in the region. By searching for wide companions to massive stars, we fill in the picture of massive star formation and the effect of multiple systems on the dynamical history of the region.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Spark Grant
Exploring the Extreme Mass Ratio of Massive Binary Stars in M17
Over 90% of massive stars have one or more companions. The binary systems we have observed tend to skew to near-equal masses between the primary and the companion stars. We have not been able to resolve many extreme mass-ratio binaries, leading us to pursue different detection methods.
We present an analysis of seven massive stars in the young, active star-forming region M17 (d = 1.7 kpc) using data from VLT SPHERE. SPHERE is uniquely capable of probing the lower end of the binary mass-ratio due to its ground-breaking extreme adaptive optics and coronagraphic capabilities which allow us to achieve greater contrast ratios than traditional adaptive optics. We utilized SPHERE's high-contrast imaging to resolve milliarcsecond binary systems and detect subsolar mass stellar companions to massive stars. Using SPHERE’s simultaneous dual-band imaging and IFS, we detected over 100 potential companions for the seven target stars and measured the position angle, angular separation, and contrast magnitude for each potential companion. The potential companions had contrast ratios ranging from 5 to 13 mag in the infrared. Previous radial velocity studies in M17 found fewer binary systems than expected. Our study is complementary to previous work in the region. By searching for wide companions to massive stars, we fill in the picture of massive star formation and the effect of multiple systems on the dynamical history of the region.