On-sky performance and recent results from the Subaru coronagraphic extreme adaptive optics system

TL;DR

This paper reports on the on-sky performance of the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics system, highlighting recent technical improvements and scientific results such as new exoplanet discoveries and disk characterizations.

Contribution

It presents recent advancements in wavefront control, image stability, and data processing for SCExAO, enhancing high-contrast imaging capabilities.

Findings

Achieved H band Strehl ratios > 0.9 for bright stars

Discovered new directly-imaged planetary systems

Improved wavefront stability and diffraction-limited imaging

Abstract

We describe the current on-sky performance of the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) instrument on the Subaru telescope on Maunakea, Hawaii. SCExAO is continuing to advance its AO performance, delivering H band Strehl ratios in excess of 0.9 for bright stars. We describe new advances with SCExAO's wavefront control that lead to a more stable corrected wavefront and diffraction-limited imaging in the optical, modifications to code that better handle read noise suppression within CHARIS, and tests of the spectrophotometric precision and accuracy within CHARIS. We outline steps in the CHARIS Data Processing Pipeline that output publication-grade data products. Finally, we note recent and upcoming science results, including the discovery of new directly-imaged systems and multiwavelength, deeper characterization of planet-forming disks, and upcoming technical advances that will improve SCExAO's sciencec capabilities.