2015A&A...578L...1C

ZCMa is a binary composed of an embedded Herbig Be and an FU Ori class star separated by ∼100 au. Observational evidence indicates a complex environment in which each star has a circumstellar disk and drives a jet, and the whole system is embedded in a large dusty envelope. We aim to probe the circumbinary environment of ZCMa in the inner 400 au in scattered light. We use high-contrast imaging polarimetry with VLT/NaCo at the H and K_s bands. The central binary is resolved in both bands. The polarized images show three bright and complex structures: a common dust envelope, a sharp extended feature previously reported in direct light, and an intriguing bright clump located 0.3" south of the binary, which appears spatially connected to the sharp extended feature. We detect orbital motion when compared to previous observations, and report a new outburst driven by the Herbig star. Our observations reveal the complex inner environment of ZCMa in unprecedented detail and contrast.