VAN HOLSTEIN , Rob G.

While nearly two dozen spiral arms have been detected from planet-forming disks in near-infrared scattered light, none of their substellar drivers has been confirmed. By observing spiral systems in at least two epochs spanning multiple years and measuring the motion of the spirals, we can distinguish what causes the spirals and locate the...

The Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) for NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) will constitute a dramatic step forward for high-contrast imaging, integral field spectroscopy, and polarimetry of exoplanets and circumstellar disks, aiming to improve upon the sensitivity of current ground-based direct imaging facilities by 2-3 orders of...