Analysis of planet effect of reference star on searching for Earth-like planets

Xiaopei Pan; Michael Shao

doi:10.1117/12.787167

28 July 2008 Analysis of planet effect of reference star on searching for Earth-like planets

Xiaopei Pan, Michael Shao

Proceedings Volume 7013, Optical and Infrared Interferometry; 701353 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787167
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

It is a challenging task to find exoplanets because of the huge contrast between star and planets in mass and in brightness. It is more challenging to determine the masses of exoplanets because it requires extremely high astrometric accuracy. In particular detection of Earth-like planets needs sub-microarcsecond (µas) precision which is possible only by narrow-angle astrometry via the SIM PlanetQuest mission. The narrow-angle observation mode of SIM PlanetQuest requires several distant reference stars, which are close enough in the sky around the target, typically within one degree. This paper provides statistical estimates of available reference stars for all candidate stars in searching for Earth-like planets. It is inevitable that some of reference stars will have binary components and planets. This paper describes the analysis techniques and various error estimates for binary jitters and planet effects of reference stars. Because of the limited number and duration of observations of SIM PlanetQuest, the Monte Carlo simulations indicate that certain long period planets around reference stars may not be detected. Earth-like planets around target stars, however, can be detected unambiguously. Finally, we demonstrate the current best estimates of instrument error, photon noise, reference stars planet disturbance, stellar jitters, etc., and conclude that the orbits of Earth-like planets with sub-μas astrometric signatures can be determined accurately by SIM PlanetQuest for nearby candidate stars.

Citation Download Citation

Xiaopei Pan and Michael Shao "Analysis of planet effect of reference star on searching for Earth-like planets", Proc. SPIE 7013, Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 701353 (28 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787167

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