Computer Science – Performance
Scientific paper
Jun 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dda....37.1002c&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #37, #10.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.671
Computer Science
Performance
Scientific paper
SIM (Space Interferometry Mission) PlanetQuest is a space-borne Michelson interferometer for precision stellar astrometry, with a nine meter baseline, currently slated for launch in 2015. One of the principal science goals is the astrometric detection and orbit characterization of terrestrial planets in the habitable zones of nearby stars. Differential astrometry of the target star against a set of reference stars lying within a degree will allow measurement of the target star's reflex motion with astrometric accuracy of 1 micro-arcsecond in a single measurement.
We present a quantitative assessment of SIM's capability for detection of terrestrial planets in the habitable zones of nearby solar-type stars. Note that the orbital periods of these planets are generally shorter than the five-year SIM mission. We formulate a joint periodogram as a tool for planet detection from astrometric data. For adequately sampled orbits, i.e., five or more observations per period, over a sampling timespan longer than the orbit period, we find that the joint periodogram is more sensitive than the chi-squared test for the null hypothesis.
In our analysis of the problem, we use Monte Carlo simulations of orbit detection, together with realistic observing scenarios, actual target and reference star lists, realistic estimates of SIM instrument performance and plausible distributions of planetary system parameters.
Performance is quantified by three metrics: minimum detectable planet mass, number and mass distribution of detected planets, and completeness of detections in each mass range. We compare SIM's performance on target lists optimized for the SIM and Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronograph (TPF-C) missions.
Finally, we discuss the issue of confidence in detections and non-detections, and show how information from SIM's planet survey can enable TPF to increase its yield of terrestrial planets.
This work was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with NASA.
Catanzarite Joseph
Shao Maxine
Tanner Alan
Unwin Stephen
Yu Jaejun
No associations
LandOfFree
Detection of Terrestrial Planets in the Habitable Zones of Nearby Stars with SIM PlantQuest does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Detection of Terrestrial Planets in the Habitable Zones of Nearby Stars with SIM PlantQuest, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Detection of Terrestrial Planets in the Habitable Zones of Nearby Stars with SIM PlantQuest will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1058989