scholarly journals Dealing with activity in RV planet searches

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (A29A) ◽  
pp. 193-195
Author(s):  
Isabelle Boisse

AbstractPrecise radial velocity measurements of a star allow to search for planets. But this method has to face with irregularly time series. Stellar variabilities: pulsation, granulation, stellar activity on a short and long timescale, also modify the measure of the radial velocities. There is indeed a growing literature of controversies on how a signal is interpreted as a planet or due to stellar activity. I present how the star variations change the measured RVs, which techniques and indices are used by several teams to disentangle activity and planets, and the future options that are being studied.

2019 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. A49 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Cloutier ◽  
N. Astudillo-Defru ◽  
R. Doyon ◽  
X. Bonfils ◽  
J.-M. Almenara ◽  
...  

In an earlier campaign to characterize the mass of the transiting temperate super-Earth K2-18b with HARPS, a second, non-transiting planet was posited to exist in the system at ~9 days. Further radial velocity follow-up with the CARMENES spectrograph visible channel revealed a much weaker signal at 9 days, which also appeared to vary chromatically and temporally, leading to the conclusion that the origin of the 9-day signal was more likely related to stellar activity than to a planetary presence. Here we conduct a detailed reanalysis of all available RV time-series – including a set of 31 previously unpublished HARPS measurements – to investigate the effects of time-sampling and of simultaneous modelling of planetary plus activity signals on the existence and origin of the curious 9-day signal. We conclude that the 9-day signal is real and was initially seen to be suppressed in the CARMENES data due to a small number of anomalous measurements, although the exact cause of these anomalies remains unknown. Investigation of the signal’s evolution in time with wavelength and detailed model comparison reveals that the 9-day signal is most likely planetary in nature. Using this analysis, we reconcile the conflicting HARPS and CARMENES results and measure precise and self-consistent planet masses of mp,b = 8.63 ± 1.35 and mp,c sinic = 5.62 ± 0.84 Earth masses. This work, along with the previously published RV papers on the K2-18 planetary system, highlights the importance of understanding the time-sampling and of modelling the simultaneous planet plus stochastic activity, particularly when searching for sub-Neptune-sized planets with radial velocities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 641 ◽  
pp. A25 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Nielsen ◽  
W. H. Ball ◽  
M. R. Standing ◽  
A. H. M. J. Triaud ◽  
D. Buzasi ◽  
...  

Context. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is observing bright known planet-host stars across almost the entire sky. These stars have been subject to extensive ground-based observations, providing a large number of radial velocity measurements. Aims. The objective of this work is to use the new TESS photometric observations to characterize the star λ2 Fornacis, and following this to update the parameters of the orbiting planet λ2 For b. Methods. We measured the frequencies of the p-mode oscillations in λ2 For, and in combination with non-seismic parameters estimated the stellar fundamental properties using stellar models. Using the revised stellar properties and a time series of archival radial velocities from the UCLES, HIRES and HARPS instruments spanning almost 20 years, we refit the orbit of λ2 For b and searched the residual radial velocities for remaining variability. Results. We find that λ2 For has a mass of 1.16 ± 0.03 M⊙ and a radius of 1.63 ± 0.04 R⊙, with an age of 6.3 ± 0.9 Gyr. This and the updated radial velocity measurements suggest a mass of λ2 For b of 16.8−1.3+1.2 M⊕, which is ∼5M⊕ less than literature estimates. We also detect an additional periodicity at 33 days in the radial velocity measurements, which is likely due to the rotation of the host star. Conclusions. While previous literature estimates of the properties of λ2 For are ambiguous, the asteroseismic measurements place the star firmly at the early stage of its subgiant evolutionary phase. Typically only short time series of photometric data are available from TESS, but by using asteroseismology it is still possible to provide tight constraints on the properties of bright stars that until now have only been observed from the ground. This prompts a reexamination of archival radial velocity data that have been accumulated in the past few decades in order to update the characteristics of the planet hosting systems observed by TESS for which asteroseismology is possible.


1986 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 273-274
Author(s):  
G. Burki

The relation existing between the radius and the period for the pulsating stars of a given class constitutes a powerful test for the theory of stellar evolution and for the identification of the pulsation modes. In recent years, several authors have determined the mean radius of a lot of pulsating stars of various classes by applying the Baade-Wesselink method. Fig. 1 presents the resulting general logP - logR diagram grouping these determinations. The sources for the radii are given by Burki and Meylan (1986). The variable stars in known binaries have been excluded since the presence of a companion biases the radius calculation (Burki, 1984). The determinations marked by arrows are based on the radial velocities by CORAVEL (1m telescope at the Haute-Provence Observatory, France) or/and on the photometry in the Geneva system (40cm and 70cm telescopes at La Silla Observatory, Chile).


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S323) ◽  
pp. 388-389
Author(s):  
Maosheng Xiang ◽  
Xiaowei Liu ◽  
Meng Zhang ◽  
Haibo Yuan ◽  
Zhiying Huo

AbstractWe present LAMOST observations and radial velocity measurements of about 1500 planetary nebulae (PNe) in M31 and M33. Most of the PNe are previously known, but 36 of them are newly discovered in the outskirts of M31, and the furthest one has a projected distance larger than 50 kpc away from the galaxy center. Eighteen objects in the area of M33 are probably newly discovered PNe, and quite a few of them are associated with previously known clusters. For all the 1500 PNe, homogeneous radial velocities are measured from the LAMOST spectra, with a typical uncertainty of a few km s−1.


2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Reichert ◽  
Sabine Reffert ◽  
Stephan Stock ◽  
Trifon Trifonov ◽  
Andreas Quirrenbach

Context. Radial-velocity variations of the K giant star Aldebaran (α Tau) were first reported in the early 1990s. After subsequent analyses, the radial-velocity variability with a period of ∼629 d has recently been interpreted as caused by a planet of several Jovian masses. Aims. We want to further investigate the hypothesis of an extrasolar planet around Aldebaran. Methods. We combine 165 new radial-velocity measurements from Lick Observatory with seven already published data sets comprising 373 radial-velocity measurements. We perform statistical analyses and investigate whether a Keplerian model properly fits the radial velocities. We also perform a dynamical stability analysis for a possible two-planet solution. Furthermore, the possibility of oscillatory convective modes as cause for the observed radial-velocity variability is discussed. Results. As best Keplerian fit to the combined radial-velocity data we obtain an orbit for the hypothetical planet with a smaller period (P = 607 d) and a larger eccentricity (e = 0.33 ± 0.04) than the previously proposed one. However, the residual scatter around that fit is still large, with a standard deviation of 117 ms−1. In 2006/2007, the statistical power of the ∼620 d period showed a temporary but significant decrease. Plotting the growth of power in reverse chronological order reveals that a period around 620 d is clearly present in the newest data but not in the data taken before ∼2006. Furthermore, an apparent phase shift between radial-velocity data and orbital solution is observable at certain times. A two-planet Keplerian fit matches the data considerably better than a single-planet solution, but poses severe dynamical stability issues. Conclusions. The radial-velocity data from Lick Observatory do not further support but in fact weaken the hypothesis of a substellar companion around Aldebaran. Oscillatory convective modes might be a plausible alternative explanation of the observed radial-velocity variations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 613 ◽  
pp. A50 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Carleo ◽  
S. Benatti ◽  
A. F. Lanza ◽  
R. Gratton ◽  
R. Claudi ◽  
...  

Context. Stellar activity is currently challenging the detection of young planets via the radial velocity (RV) technique. Aims. We attempt to definitively discriminate the nature of the RV variations for the young active K5 star BD+20 1790, for which visible (VIS) RV measurements show divergent results on the existence of a substellar companion. Methods. We compare VIS data with high precision RVs in the near-infrared (NIR) range by using the GIANO–B and IGRINS spectrographs. In addition, we present for the first time simultaneous VIS-NIR observations obtained with GIARPS (GIANO–B and HARPS–N) at Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG). Orbital RVs are achromatic, so the RV amplitude does not change at different wavelengths, while stellar activity induces wavelength-dependent RV variations, which are significantly reduced in the NIR range with respect to the VIS. Results. The NIR radial velocity measurements from GIANO–B and IGRINS show an average amplitude of about one quarter with respect to previously published VIS data, as expected when the RV jitter is due to stellar activity. Coeval multi-band photometry surprisingly shows larger amplitudes in the NIR range, explainable with a mixture of cool and hot spots in the same active region. Conclusions. In this work, the claimed massive planet around BD+20 1790 is ruled out by our data. We exploited the crucial role of multi-wavelength spectroscopy when observing young active stars: thanks to facilities like GIARPS that provide simultaneous observations, this method can reach its maximum potential.


2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S253) ◽  
pp. 157-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Lloyd ◽  
Agnieszka Czeszumska ◽  
Jerry Edelstein ◽  
David Erskine ◽  
Michael Feuerstein ◽  
...  

AbstractThe TEDI (TripleSpec - Exoplanet Discovery Instrument) is a dedicated instrument for the near-infrared radial velocity search for planetary companions to low-mass stars with the goal of achieving meters-per-second radial velocity precision. Heretofore, such planet searches have been limited almost entirely to the optical band and to stars that are bright in this band. Consequently, knowledge about planetary companions to the populous but visibly faint low-mass stars is limited. In addition to the opportunity afforded by precision radial velocity searches directly for planets around low mass stars, transits around the smallest M dwarfs offer a chance to detect the smallest possible planets in the habitable zones of the parent stars. As has been the the case with followup of planet candidates detected by the transit method requiring radial velocity confirmation, the capability to undertake efficient precision radial velocity measurements of mid-late M dwarfs will be required. TEDI has been commissioned on the Palomar 200” telescope in December 2007, and is currently in a science verification phase.


2020 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. A77
Author(s):  
N. Meunier ◽  
A.-M. Lagrange ◽  
S. Borgniet

Context. Stellar activity strongly affects and may prevent the detection of Earth-mass planets in the habitable zone of solar-type stars with radial velocity technics. Astrometry is in principle less sensitive to stellar activity because the situation is more favourable: the stellar astrometric signal is expected to be fainter than the planetary astrometric signal compared to radial velocities. Aims. We quantify the effect of stellar activity on high-precision astrometry when Earth-mass planets are searched for in the habitable zone around old main-sequence solar-type stars. Methods. We used a very large set of magnetic activity synthetic time series to characterise the properties of the stellar astrometric signal. We then studied the detectability of exoplanets based on different approaches: first based on the theoretical level of false positives derived from the synthetic time series, and then with blind tests for old main-sequence F6-K4 stars. Results. The amplitude of the signal can be up to a few times the solar value depending on the assumptions made for activity level, spectral type, and spot contrast. The detection rates for 1 MEarth planets are very good, however, with extremely low false-positive rates in the habitable zone for stars in the F6-K4 range at 10 pc. The standard false-alarm probability using classical bootstrapping on the time series strongly overestimates the false-positive level. This affects the detection rates. Conclusions. We conclude that if technological challenges can be overcome and very high precision is reached, astrometry is much more suitable for detecting Earth-mass planets in the habitable zone around nearby solar-type stars than radial velocity, and detection rates are much higher for this range of planetary masses and periods when astrometric techniques are used than with radial velocity techniques.


1984 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 291-294
Author(s):  
Ch. Fehrenbach ◽  
R. Burnage

AbstractRadial velocity measurements with an objective-prism mounted on a Schmidt telescope.A 62 cm diameter objective-prism is mounted on the CNRS-University of Liège Schmidt telescope at the Haute Provence Observatory. The field is 4 x 4° and the limiting magnitude is 12.5 on IllaJ hyper-sensitised plates. The dispersion is 200 A mm-1 at 4220 A. The plates are measured with a special machine and data are reduced by means of a computer with a correlation method. Stars of all spectral types are measured. The probable error is of some 4 km sec -1 over a mean of at least 3 plates. Already several lists of radial velocities of stars belonging to field situated at -30° of galactic latitude have been published. We have also started radial velocity observations for the Hipparcos Program.


2019 ◽  
Vol 628 ◽  
pp. A125 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Meunier ◽  
A.-M. Lagrange

Context. The effect of stellar activity on radial velocity (RV) measurements appears to be a limiting factor in detecting Earth-mass planets in the habitable zone of a star that is similar to the Sun in spectral type and activity level. It is crucial to estimate whether this conclusion remain true for other stars with current correction methods. Aims. We built realistic time series in radial velocity and chromospheric emission for old main-sequence F6-K4 stars. We studied the effect of the stellar parameters we investigate on exoplanet detectability. The stellar parameters are spectral type, activity level, rotation period, cycle period and amplitude, latitude coverage, and spot constrast, which we chose to be in ranges that are compatible with our current knowledge of stellar activity. Methods. This very large set of synthetic time series allowed us to study the effect of the parameters on the RV jitter and how the different contributions to the RV are affected in this first analysis of the data set. The RV jitter was used to provide a first-order detection limit for each time series and different temporal samplings. Results. We find that the coverage in latitude of the activity pattern and the cycle amplitudes have a strong effect on the RV jitter, as has stellar inclination. RV jitter trends with B–V and Log R′HK are similar to observations, but activity cannot be responsible for RV jitter larger than 2–3 m s−1 for very quiet stars: this observed jitter is therefore likely to be due to other causes (instrumental noise or stellar or planetary companions, e.g.). Finally, we show that based on the RV jitter that is associated with each time series and using a simple criterion, a planet with one Earth mass and a period of one to two years probably cannot be detected with current analysis techniques, except for the lower mass stars in our sample, but very many observations would be required. The effect of inclination is critical. Conclusions. The results are very important in the context of future RV follow-ups of transit detections of such planets. We conclude that a significant improvement of analysis techniques and/or observing strategies must be made to reach such low detection limits.


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