Master thesis and internship[BR]- Master's thesis : High-contrast imaging of protoplanetary disks with VLT/NaCo[BR]- Integration internship

Abstract

Despite the significant number of extra-solar planets that have already been discovered, our understanding of their formation and early evolution remains incomplete. Most detection methods are effective at identifying mature exo- planets, often orbiting relatively old stars. However, these techniques provide limited insight into the processes that govern the birth and development of plan- etary systems. Among the various available approaches, one stands out for its unique ability to observe exoplanets in their formative stages and within their birth environments: high-contrast imaging. High-contrast imaging allows astronomers to spatially resolve circumstellar environments and detect faint planetary companions embedded in the disks of gas and dust that surround young stars. These protoplanetary disks are crucial to understanding the mechanisms that lead to planet formation, disk clearing, and the subsequent evolution of planetary systems. The aim of this thesis is to apply state-of-the-art post-processing algorithms to archival data. More specifically, this work focuses on data obtained with the now-decommissioned NaCo instrument, formerly installed on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. Although NaCo is no longer operational, its extensive data archive remains a valuable resource for exploring young star systems with modern computational tools. This approach demonstrates that even archival observations can yield novel scientific insights when reprocessed with advanced methods. As a result, the combination of legacy data and modern analysis holds promise for expanding our understanding of planet formation without the need for new observations - an efficient and sustainable approach in the context of limited telescope time.