The inner environment of Z~CMa: High-Contrast Imaging Polarimetry with NaCo

Abstract

Context. Z\,CMa is a binary composed of an embedded Herbig Be and an FU Ori class star separated by $\sim 100$ au. Observational evidence indicate a complex environment in which each star has a circumstellar disk and drives a jet, and the whole system is embedded in a large dusty envelope. Aims. We aim to probe the circumbinary environment of Z\,CMa in the inner 400 au in scattered light. Methods. We use high contrast imaging polarimetry with VLT/NaCo at $H$ and $K_s$ bands. Results. The central binary is resolved in both bands. The polarized images show three bright and complex structures: a common dust envelope, a sharp extended feature previously reported in direct light, and an intriguing bright clump located $0\farcs3$ south of the binary, which appears spatially connected to the sharp extended feature. Conclusions.We detect orbital motion when compared to previous observations, and report a new outburst driven by the Herbig star. Our observations reveal the complex inner environment of Z\,CMa with unprecedented detail and contrast.

Accepted for publication in A&A Letters

References in corpus (3)

• Circumstellar disks around Herbig Be stars
• Speckle Suppression Through Dual Imaging Polarimetry, and a Ground-Based Image of the HR 4796A Circumstellar Disk
• The Immediate Environments of Two Herbig Be Stars: MWC 1080 and HD 259431

Cited by in corpus (8)

• A likely flyby of binary protostar Z CMa caught in action
• A single-armed spiral in the protoplanetary disk around HD34282 ?
• The SPHERE view of three interacting twin disc systems in polarised light
• The 2008 outburst in the Young Stellar System Z CMa. III - Multi-epoch high-angular resolution images and spectra of the components in near-infrared
• Reading between the lines: Disk emission, wind, and accretion during the ZCMa NW outburst
• NaCo polarimetric observations of Sz 91 transitional disk: a remarkable case of dust filtering
• Polarimetric differential imaging with VLT/NACO. A comprehensive PDI pipeline for NACO data (PIPPIN)
• Large-Scale Ejecta of Z CMa -- Proper Motion Study and New Features Discovered