scholarly journals The GAPS Programme with HARPS-N at TNG

2018 ◽  
Vol 616 ◽  
pp. A155 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Lanza ◽  
L. Malavolta ◽  
S. Benatti ◽  
S. Desidera ◽  
A. Bignamini ◽  
...  

Aims. Stellar activity is the ultimate source of radial-velocity (hereinafter RV) noise in the search for Earth-mass planets orbiting late-type main-sequence stars. We analyse the performance of four different indicators and the chromospheric index log R′HK in detecting RV variations induced by stellar activity in 15 slowly rotating (υ sin i ≤ 5 km s−1), weakly active (log R′HK ≤ −4.95) solar-like stars observed with the high-resolution spectrograph High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher for the Northern hemisphere (HARPS-N). Methods. We consider indicators of the asymmetry of the cross-correlation function (CCF) between the stellar spectrum and the binary weighted line mask used to compute the RV, that is the bisector inverse span (BIS), ΔV, and a new indicator Vasy(mod) together with the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the CCF. We present methods to evaluate the uncertainties of the CCF indicators and apply a kernel regression (KR) between the RV, the time, and each of the indicators to study their capability of reproducing the RV variations induced by stellar activity. Results. The considered indicators together with the KR prove to be useful to detect activity-induced RV variations in ~47 ± 18 percent of the stars over a two-year time span when a significance (two-sided p-value) threshold of one percent is adopted. In those cases, KR reduces the standard deviation of the RV time series by a factor of approximately two. The BIS, the FWHM, and the newly introduced Vasy(mod) are the best indicators, being useful in 27 ± 13, 13 ± 9, and 13 ± 9 percent of the cases, respectively. The relatively limited performances of the activity indicators are related to the very low activity level and υ sin i of the considered stars. For the application of our approach to sun-like stars, a spectral resolution allowing λ/Δλ ≥ 105 and highly stabilized spectrographs are recommended.

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (H15) ◽  
pp. 815-815
Author(s):  
Antonio S. Hales ◽  
Michael J. Barlow ◽  
Janet E. Drew ◽  
Yvonne C. Unruh ◽  
Robert Greimel ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Isaac Newton Photometric H-Alpha Survey (IPHAS) provides (r′-Hα)-(r′-i′) colors, which can be used to select AV0-5 Main Sequence star candidates (age~20-200 Myr). By combining a sample of 23050 IPHAS-selected A-type stars with 2MASS, GLIMPSE and MIPSGAL photometry we searched for mid-infrared excesses attributable to dusty circumstellar disks. Positional cross-correlation yielded a sample of 2692 A-type stars, of which 0.6% were found to have 8-μm excesses above the expected photospheric values. The low fraction of main sequence stars with mid-IR excesses found in this work indicates that dust disks in the terrestrial planet zone of Main Sequence intermediate mass stars are rare. Dissipation mechanisms such as photo-evaporation, grain growth, collisional grinding or planet formation could possibly explain the depletion of dust detected in the inner regions of these disks.


2001 ◽  
Vol 200 ◽  
pp. 165-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eike W. Guenther ◽  
Viki Joergens ◽  
Ralph Neuhäuser ◽  
Guillermo Torres ◽  
Natalie Stout Batalha ◽  
...  

We give here an overview of the current state of our survey for pre-main sequence spectroscopic binaries. Up to now we have taken 739 spectra of 250 pre-main sequence stars. We find that 8% of the stars show significant radial velocity variations, and are thus most likely spectroscopic binaries. In addition to the targets showing radial velocity variations, 6% of the targets are double-lined spectroscopic binaries i.e., the total fraction of spectroscopic binaries is expected to be about 14%. All short-period SB2s are monitored photometrically in order to search for eclipses. An eclipsing SB2 would allow the direct measurement of the masses of both stellar components. Measurements of the stellar masses together with determinations of the stellar radii are a crucial test of evolutionary tracks of pre-main sequence stars.


2020 ◽  
Vol 639 ◽  
pp. A77 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Suárez Mascareño ◽  
J. P. Faria ◽  
P. Figueira ◽  
C. Lovis ◽  
M. Damasso ◽  
...  

Context. The discovery of Proxima b marked one of the most important milestones in exoplanetary science in recent years. Yet the limited precision of the available radial velocity data and the difficulty in modelling the stellar activity calls for a confirmation of the Earth-mass planet. Aims. We aim to confirm the presence of Proxima b using independent measurements obtained with the new ESPRESSO spectrograph, and refine the planetary parameters taking advantage of its improved precision. Methods. We analysed 63 spectroscopic ESPRESSO observations of Proxima (Gl 551) taken during 2019. We obtained radial velocity measurements with a typical radial velocity photon noise of 26 cm s−1. We combined these data with archival spectroscopic observations and newly obtained photometric measurements to model the stellar activity signals and disentangle them from planetary signals in the radial velocity (RV) data. We ran a joint Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis on the time series of the RV and full width half maximum of the cross-correlation function to model the planetary and stellar signals present in the data, applying Gaussian process regression to deal with the stellar activity signals. Results. We confirm the presence of Proxima b independently in the ESPRESSO data and in the combined ESPRESSO+ HARPS+UVES dataset. The ESPRESSO data on its own shows Proxima b at a period of 11.218 ± 0.029 days, with a minimum mass of 1.29 ± 0.13 M⊕. In the combined dataset we measure a period of 11.18427 ± 0.00070 days with a minimum mass of 1.173 ± 0.086 M⊕. We get a clear measurement of the stellar rotation period (87 ± 12 d) and its induced RV signal, but no evidence of stellar activity as a potential cause for the 11.2 days signal. We find some evidence for the presence of a second short-period signal, at 5.15 days with a semi-amplitude of only 40 cm s−1. If caused by a planetary companion, it would correspond to a minimum mass of 0.29 ± 0.08 M⊕. We find that forthe case of Proxima, the full width half maximum of the cross-correlation function can be used as a proxy for the brightness changes and that its gradient with time can be used to successfully detrend the RV data from part of the influence of stellar activity. The activity-induced RV signal in the ESPRESSO data shows a trend in amplitude towards redder wavelengths. Velocities measured using the red end of the spectrograph are less affected by activity, suggesting that the stellar activity is spot dominated. This could be used to create differential RVs that are activity dominated and can be used to disentangle activity-induced and planetary-induced signals. The data collected excludes the presence of extra companions with masses above 0.6 M⊕ at periods shorter than 50 days.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. V. Şenavcı ◽  
M. Yılmaz ◽  
Ö. Baştürk ◽  
İ. Özavcı ◽  
Ş. Çalışkan ◽  
...  

AbstractWe present the simultaneous light and radial velocity curve analysis of two contact binaries in Pegasus using the Wilson-Devinney code. The following absolute astrophysical parameters are determined: masses, radii and effective temperatures. BB Peg is a W-subtype W UMa-type binary, components of which are main sequence stars with 0.50


1980 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 235-236
Author(s):  
James E. Hesser ◽  
Horace A. Smith

47 A mm−1 image-tube spectra show that the turnoff region and blue straggler stars in NGC 2477 are not, in general, rapid rotators, as postulated by Hartwick and Hesser (1974) to explain, via mixing induced by meridional circulation, the widely differing photometric metallicity estimates based upon uvbyβ photometry of the main-sequence stars and DDO photometry of the giant stars. However, the discrepant metallicity estimates are largely reconciled by recent revisions in the reddening corrections for the DDO system (Boyle 1979, Janes 1979); and by small color corrections of the type described by Muzzio (1978) and Schmidt and Taylor (1979) applied to the β-photometry. The mean radial velocity is found to be 5.6 kms−1 while the mean Vsini is 105 km s−1. Star “m” is spectroscopically confirmed to be an Am star.


1999 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 313-316
Author(s):  
Pawel Artymowicz

AbstractThe past decade brought direct evidence of the previously surmised exoplanetary systems. A variety of planetary system types exist those around pulsars, around both young and old main-sequence stars (as evidenced by planetesimal disks of the Beta Pictoris-type), and the mature giant exoplanets found in radial velocity surveys. The surprising diversity of the exoplanetary systems is addressed by several theories of their origin.


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.


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.


1984 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 263-264
Author(s):  
Robert D. Mathieu ◽  
David W. Latham ◽  
Lee Hartmann

High-precision radial-velocity studies of three young, star-forming regions - λ Orionis, NGC 2264 and Taurus-Auriga - are under way; study of the Orion cluster (with L. Marschall, in conjunction with the Yale proper-motion study) is beginning this winter. Single-order (~50 A, central wavelength 5200A) echelle spectra have been obtained for late-type pre-main sequence stars. Due to the spectral peculiarities and stellar rotation associated with pre-main sequence stars, our radial-velocity precisions are often somewhat poorer than those obtained for late-type dwarfs or giants. Measurement errors of 0.7-1.5 km/sec are typical, although some stars do not permit any radial velocity measurement at all. We summarize preliminary findings for each region:


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