CQ Tau images in near-infrared

We reached a Ks-band contrast of 14 mag with SPHERE/IRDIS at separations greater than 0.4' from the star. Our mass sensitivity curve rules out giant planets above 4M_Jup_ immediately outside the spiral arms at ~60au and above 2-3M_Jup_ beyond 100au to 5{sigma} confidence assuming hot-start models.

We do, however, detect four spiral arms, a double-arc and evidence for shadows in scattered light cast by a misaligned inner disc. Our observations may be explained by an unseen close-in companion on an inclined and eccentric orbit. Such a hypothesis would also account for the disc CO cavity and disturbed kinematics.