HST/WFC3 H$\alpha$ Direct-Imaging Detection of a Point-like Source in the Disk Cavity of AB Aur

TL;DR

This study uses HST/WFC3 H-alpha imaging to detect a point-like source in the disk cavity of AB Aur, likely a protoplanet candidate, but the origin of the H-alpha emission remains uncertain.

Contribution

First direct H-alpha imaging detection of a protoplanet candidate in AB Aur's disk cavity, highlighting the challenge of confirming planetary accretion signatures.

Findings

Detected a point-like source consistent with AB Aur b in H-alpha images.

H-alpha flux density indicates possible planetary accretion or stellar light scattering.

H-alpha emission alone cannot confirm the protoplanet's accretion activity.

Abstract

Accreting protoplanets enable the direct characterization of planet formation. As part of a high-contrast imaging search for accreting planets with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3, we present H$\alpha$ images of AB Aurigae (AB Aur), a Herbig Ae/Be star harboring a transition disk. The data were collected in two epochs of direct-imaging observations using the F656N narrow-band filter. After subtracting the point spread function of the primary star, we identify a point-like source located at a P.A. of $182.5^{\circ}\pm1.4^{\circ}$ and a separation of $600\pm22$~mas relative to the host star. The position is consistent with the recently identified protoplanet candidate AB Aur b. The source is visible in two individual epochs separated by ${\sim}50$ days and the H$\alpha$ intensities in the two epochs agree. The H$\alpha$ flux density is $F_{\nu}=1.5\pm0.4$~mJy, $3.2\pm0.9$ times of the optical continuum determined by published HST/STIS photometry. In comparison to PDS 70 b and c, the H$\alpha$ excess emission is weak. The central star is accreting and the stellar H$\alpha$ emission has a similar line-to-continuum ratio as seen in AB Aur b. We conclude that both planetary accretion and scattered stellar light are possible sources of the H$\alpha$ emission, and the H$\alpha$ detection alone does not validate AB Aur b as an accreting protoplanet. Disentangling the origin of the emission will be crucial for probing planet formation in the AB Aur disk.