I am interested in extrasolar planets and their formation. In order to study these objects and processes, I am seeking to advance astronomical instrumentation and observational technique. Particularly interesting are indirect and direct techniques for detecting extrasolar planets with adaptive optics, coronagraphy, and interferometry. I am also studying dust disks around main sequence stars. High-contrast observations of circumstellar debris can reveal signatures of planet formation.
| Maness, H. L., Kalas, P., Peek, K. M. G., Chiang, E. I., Scherer, K., Fitzgerald, M. P., Graham, J. R., Hines, D. C., Schneider, G., & Metchev, S. A. | "Hubble Space Telescope Optical Imaging of the Eroding Debris Disk HD 61005." | Astrophysical Journal, 707 (2009): 1098-1114 | [ADS; PDF] |
| Fitzgerald, M. P., Kalas, P., & Graham, J. R. | "Orbital Constraints on the beta Pic Inner Planet Candidate with Keck Adaptive Optics." | Astrophysical Journal, 706 (2009): L41-45 | [ADS; PDF] |
| Chen, C. H., Fitzgerald, M. P., & Smith, P. S. | "A Possible Icy Kuiper Belt around HD 181327." | Astrophysical Journal, 689 (2008): 539-544 | [ADS; PDF] |
| Kalas, P., Graham, J. R., Chiang, E., Fitzgerald, M. P., Clampin, M., Kite, E. S., Stapelfeldt, K., Marois, C., & Krist, J. | "Optical Images of an Exosolar Planet 25 Light-Years from Earth." | Science, 322 (2008): 1345-1348 | [ADS; PDF] |
| Maness, H. L., Fitzgerald, M. P., Paladini, R., Kalas, P., Duchêne, G., & Graham, J. R. | "CARMA Millimeter-Wave Aperture Synthesis Imaging of the HD 32297 Debris Disk." | Astrophysical Journal, 686 (2008): L25-L28 | [ADS; PDF] |
| Fitzgerald, M. P., Kalas, P. G., & Graham, J. R. | "A Ring of Warm Dust in the HD 32297 Debris Disk." | Astrophysical Journal, 670 (2007): 557-564 | [ADS; PDF] |
| Fitzgerald, M. P., Kalas, P. G., Duchêne, G., Pinte, C., & Graham, J. R. | "The AU Mic Debris Disk: Multiwavelength Imaging and Modeling." | Astrophysical Journal, 670 (2007): 536-556 | [ADS; PDF] |
| Fitzgerald, M. P., & Graham, J. R. | "Speckle Statistics in Adaptively Corrected Images." | Astrophysical Journal, 637 (2006): 541-547 | [ADS; PDF] |