Time-variable Scattered Light in Herbig Disks Observed with Subaru/SCExAO

TL;DR

This study uses Subaru/SCExAO to image nine Herbig stars, revealing variable scattered light features in some disks, and demonstrates the capabilities and limitations of the fast-PDI mode for protoplanetary disk observation.

Contribution

First near-infrared polarimetric imaging of nine Herbig stars with SCExAO, detecting surface-brightness variability and demonstrating the fast-PDI mode for disk imaging.

Findings

Detected disks around MWC 480, HD 163296, and HD 143006 for the first time with SCExAO.

Observed azimuthal brightness dips and apparent motion suggesting illumination-driven variability.

Reported the first detection of a protoplanetary disk using the fast-PDI mode on SCExAO.

Abstract

Using the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) instrument, we present near-infrared K-band polarimetric imaging of nine Herbig stars selected from a volume-limited sample within 200 pc. We detect the disks around MWC 480, HD 163296, and HD 143006 for the first time with SCExAO, and compare these observations with previous VLT/SPHERE datasets to identify surface-brightness variability. In MWC 480, we resolve two azimuthal brightness dips near the disk minor axis and find evidence that one of them shifted between 2021 and 2022. In HD 163296, we identify an apparent linear azimuthal motion of a localized peak in polarized intensity along the outer ring over a 15-month baseline. The rapid motion of these features relative to the local Keplerian velocity suggests that the observed variability is driven by changing illumination rather than physical material motion. Due to uncertainties in the underlying scattering background, however, we cannot determine the precise physical origin of the variability. No significant disk variability is detected in HD 143006 over a 10-month baseline. We also report the first detection of a protoplanetary disk using the fast-PDI mode on SCExAO, illustrating both the promise and current limitations of this observing mode. Finally, we report non-detections toward HD 144432, HD 56895, PDS 76, HIP 80425, HD 148352, and HIP 81474. All non-detections with Meeus classifications belong to Group II systems and are likely self-shadowed. For these six systems, we measure the system-integrated polarization fraction and angle of linear polarization, providing quantitative constraints on their unresolved circumstellar environments.