Computer Science – Performance
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006aas...209.2402c&link_type=abstract
2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #24.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, V
Computer Science
Performance
Scientific paper
SIM PlanetQuest is a space-borne Michelson interferometer with a 9 m baseline, currently slated for launch in 2016. One of the principal science goals of the mission is the astrometric detection and orbital 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 one micro-arcsecond in a single measurement.
In this study, we define survey strategies and planet-search target lists adapted to different occurrence frequencies of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone. We introduce the joint periodogram as a tool for astrometric planet detection, and assess SIM’s sensitivity for detection of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone using realistic target star lists and testbed-validated assumptions about instrument performance.
We find that for the best 120 planet-search targets, SIM PlanetQuest will be able to detect Earth-size planets (or smaller) around 6 stars, planets of 2 Earth masses (or smaller) around 30 stars, and planets of triple Earth’s mass (or smaller) around all 120 stars.
For details of this study, see Catanzarite, et al. 2006 PASP 118:1322-1342.
We conclude that SIM PlanetQuest will be capable of probing populations of terrestrial and ice giant planets residing in the habitable zones of a large sample of stars within 30 pc. SIM PlanetQuest’s scientific discoveries will potentially unveil the erstwhile hidden regime of rocky planets, allowing the first thorough checks of predictions of theories of planet formation.
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
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