Statistics and Simulations of Transit Surveys for Extrasolar Planets

Details Statistics and Simulations of Transit Surveys for Extrasolar Planets Statistics and Simulations of Transit Surveys for Extrasolar Planets

2006-12-05

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0612141v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

10 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables. To appear in the ASP Conference Series: "Transiting Extrasolar Planets Workshop" MPIA Heidelber

Scientific paper

The yields from transit surveys can be used to constrain the frequency and statistical properties of extrasolar planets. Conversely, planet frequencies can be used to estimate expected detection rates, which are critical for the planning and execution of these surveys. Here I review efforts to accomplish these two related goals, both of which generally require realistic simulations. Early attempts to predict planet yields generally resulted in overly optimistic detection rates that have not been realized. I point out where these estimates likely went wrong, and emphasize the strong biases and sensitivity to detection thresholds inherent in transit surveys. I argue that meaningful comparisons between observed and predicted detection rates require proper calibration of these biases and thresholds. In the few cases where this has been done, the observed rates agree with the results from radial velocity surveys for similar stellar environments. I then go on to describe recent, detailed calculations which should provide more accurate rates, which can be critically compared to observed yields. Finally, I discuss expectations for future all-sky synoptic surveys, which may have the sensitivity to detect hundreds or thousands of close-in transiting planets. Realizing the enormous potential of these surveys will require novel methods of coping with the overwhelming number of astrophysical false positives that will accompany the planet detections.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Statistics and Simulations of Transit Surveys for Extrasolar Planets 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 Statistics and Simulations of Transit Surveys for Extrasolar Planets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Statistics and Simulations of Transit Surveys for Extrasolar Planets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-451458