A Novel Method to Photometrically Constrain Orbital Eccentricities: Multibody Asterodensity Profiling (MAP)

Details A Novel Method to Photometrically Constrain Orbital Eccentricities: Multibody Asterodensity Profiling (MAP) A Novel Method to Photometrically Constrain Orbital Eccentricities: Multibody Asterodensity Profiling (MAP)

2011-12-12

arxiv.org/abs/1112.2700v1

Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 2012, Volume 421, Issue 2, pp. 1166-1188

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

25 pages, 14 figures. Accepted in MNRAS

Scientific paper

We present a novel method to determine eccentricity constraints of extrasolar planets in systems with multiple transiting planets through photometry alone. Our method is highly model independent, making no assumptions about the stellar parameters and requiring no radial velocity, transit timing or occultation events. Our technique exploits the fact the light curve derived stellar density must be the same for all planets transiting a common star. Assuming a circular orbit, the derived stellar density departs from the true value by a predictable factor, Psi, which contains information on the eccentricity of the system. By comparing multiple stellar densities, any differences must be due to eccentricity and thus meaningful constraints can be placed in the absence of any other information. The technique, dubbed "Multibody Asterodensity Profiling" (MAP), is a new observable which can be used alone or in combination with other observables, such as radial velocities and transit timing variations. An eccentricity prior can also be included as desired. MAP is most sensitive to the minimum pair-combined eccentricity e.g. (e1 + e2)[min]. Individual eccentricity constraints are less stringent but an empirical eccentricity posterior is always derivable and is freely available from transit photometry alone. We present a description of our technique using both analytic and numerical implementations, followed by two example analyses on synthetic photometry as a proof of principle. We point out that MAP has the potential to constrain the eccentricity, and thus habitability, of Earth-like planets in the absence of radial velocity data, which is likely for terrestrial-mass objects.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A Novel Method to Photometrically Constrain Orbital Eccentricities: Multibody Asterodensity Profiling (MAP) 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 A Novel Method to Photometrically Constrain Orbital Eccentricities: Multibody Asterodensity Profiling (MAP), we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Novel Method to Photometrically Constrain Orbital Eccentricities: Multibody Asterodensity Profiling (MAP) will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-484808