SIM-Lite detection of habitable planets in P-type binary-planetary systems

Xiaopei Pan; Michael Shao; Stuart Shaklan; Renaud Goullioud

doi:10.1117/12.856330

21 July 2010 SIM-Lite detection of habitable planets in P-type binary-planetary systems

Xiaopei Pan, Michael Shao, Stuart Shaklan, Renaud Goullioud

Proceedings Volume 7734, Optical and Infrared Interferometry II; 77343H (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856330
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Close binary stars like spectroscopic binaries create a completely different environment than single stars for the evolution of a protoplanetary disk. Dynamical interactions between one star and protoplanets in such systems provide more challenges for theorists to model giant planet migration and formation of multiple planets. For habitable planets the majority of host stars are in binary star systems. So far only a small amount of Jupiter-size planets have been discovered in binary stars, whose minimum separations are 20 AU and the median value is about 1000 AU (because of difficulties in radial velocity measurements). The SIM Lite mission, a space-based astrometric observatory, has a unique capability to detect habitable planets in binary star systems. This work analyzed responses of the optical system to the field stop for companion stars and demonstrated that SIM Lite can observe exoplanets in visual binaries with small angular separations. In particular we investigated the issues for the search for terrestrial planets in P-type binary-planetary systems, where the planets move around both stars in a relatively distant orbit.

Citation Download Citation

Xiaopei Pan, Michael Shao, Stuart Shaklan, and Renaud Goullioud "SIM-Lite detection of habitable planets in P-type binary-planetary systems", Proc. SPIE 7734, Optical and Infrared Interferometry II, 77343H (21 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856330

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