The inner environment of Z Canis Majoris: High-contrast imaging polarimetry with NaCo
Abstract
Context. Z CMa is a binary composed of an embedded Herbig Be and an FU Ori class star separated by ~100 au. Observational evidence indicates a complex environment in which each star has a circumstellar disk and drives a jet, and the whole system is embedded in a large dusty envelope.
Aims: We aim to probe the circumbinary environment of Z CMa in the inner 400 au in scattered light.
Methods: We use high-contrast imaging polarimetry with VLT/NaCo at the H and Ks bands.
Results: The central binary is resolved in both bands. The polarized images show three bright and complex structures: a common dust envelope, a sharp extended feature previously reported in direct light, and an intriguing bright clump located 0.3 arcsec south of the binary, which appears spatially connected to the sharp extended feature.
Conclusions: We detect orbital motion when compared to previous observations, and report a new outburst driven by the Herbig star. Our observations reveal the complex inner environment of Z CMa in unprecedented detail and contrast.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- June 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361/201526134
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1504.05197
- Bibcode:
- 2015A&A...578L...1C
- Keywords:
-
- stars: variables: T Tauri;
- Herbig Ae/Be;
- binaries: general;
- stars: pre-main sequence;
- accretion;
- accretion disks;
- instrumentation: high angular resolution;
- techniques: polarimetric;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in A&