VLT/SPHERE survey for exoplanets around young, early-type stars including systems with multi-belt architectures

Context. Dusty debris disks around pre- and main-sequence stars are potential signposts for the existence of planetesimals and exoplanets. Giant planet formation is therefore expected to play a key role in the evolution of the disk. This is indirectly confirmed by extant submillimeter near-infrared images of young protoplanetary and cool dusty debris disks around main-sequence stars that usually show substantial spatial structures. With two decades of direct imaging of exoplanets already studied, it is striking to note that a majority of recent discoveries of imaged giant planets have been obtained around young early-type stars hosting a circumstellar disk. Aims. Our aim was to create a direct imaging program designed to maximize our chances of giant planet discovery and target 22 young early-type stars. About half of them show indications of multi-belt architectures. Methods. Using the IRDIS dual-band imager and the IFS integral field spectrograph of SPHERE to acquire high-constrast c...