Speaker
Description
Detailed observations of the multiplicity properties of massive stars probing the full mass ratio and separation range are crucial for constraining massive star and binary formation models. However, the low-mass end of the companion mass function around massive stars remains largely unexplored due to the contrast limitations of previous spectroscopic and interferometric studies. Recently, the Carina High-contrast Imaging Project of massive Stars (CHIPS) showed that high-contrast imaging (VLT/SPHERE) enables us to explore the brown dwarf mass regime around massive stars at separations between 0”.15 and 6” (~400-15000 AU). These observations provide key insights into whether low-mass (sub)stellar companions can form and survive in the harsh UV radiation fields of massive stars. In this talk, I will present the bias-corrected multiplicity fractions obtained from recent high-contrast imaging surveys of massive stars in various environments (Carina region, Sco OB1, M17). Additionally, I will discuss follow-up observations of multiple low-mass stellar and substellar companions in Sco OB1 and M17.
