ELT Imaging of MWC 297 from the 23-m LBTI: Complex Disk Structure and a Companion Candidate

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution 3.7 micron imaging from the Large Binocular Telescope to reveal complex disk structures and a potential companion around the young star MWC 297, offering new insights into early star and planet formation.

Contribution

First ELT-resolution imaging of a distant young star revealing detailed disk features and a companion candidate, advancing understanding of star formation processes.

Findings

Complex disk structures on several au scales

Detection of a companion candidate

Imaging results are robust against analysis choices

Abstract

Herbig Ae/Be stars represent the early outcomes of star formation and the initial stages of planet formation at intermediate stellar masses. Understanding both of these processes requires detailed characterization of their disk structures and companion frequencies. We present new 3.7 micron imaging of the Herbig Be star MWC 297 from non-redundant masking observations on the phase-controlled, 23-m Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer. The images reveal complex disk structure on the scales of several au, as well as a companion candidate. We discuss physical interpretations for these features, and demonstrate that the imaging results are independent of choices such as priors, regularization hyperparameters, and error bar estimates. With an angular resolution of ~17 mas, these data provide the first robust ELT-resolution view of a distant young star.