Authors

D. Mawet

Affiliations

JPL - Caltech

Abstract

As the imaging of Beta Pictoris by Lagrange et al recently proved it, L-band can be considered as the optimal filter to image young extra-solar planets from the ground, both because of the favorable contrast ratio provided by the relatively high temperatures of the still forming planets, and because of the image quality obtained at longer wavelengths. However, most observations in the L-band so far have been using saturated images and angular differential imaging. From recent data obtained at the VLT with NACO, I will show that the use of the available Lyot coronagraph to attenuate the highly coherent L-band PSF provides an additional gain at close separations. I will conclude by discussing the science perspectives of a phase-mask coronagraph such as the vector vortex coronagraph at L. Indeed, the VVC would allow accessing much closer separations while maintaining much higher contrast ratios than the saturated mode currently provides.