Detection of Super-Earth Planets via the Transit Timing Variation Method

Details Detection of Super-Earth Planets via the Transit Timing Variation Method Detection of Super-Earth Planets via the Transit Timing Variation Method

Dec 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufm.p14b..04h&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #P14B-04

Biology

1

5200 Planetary Sciences: Astrobiology, 5205 Formation Of Stars And Planets, 5215 Origin Of Life, 5450 Orbital And Rotational Dynamics (1221)

Scientific paper

Short-period terrestrial-class and Super-Earth objects are predicted to be captured into near mean-motion resonant orbits with migrating giant planets. These objects are potentially detectable via transit photometry of their host stars, or the measurement of the variations of the transit-timing due to their close-in Jovian-mass planetary companions. The latter, also known as the TTV method, is particularly efficient in detecting small close-in planets in resonant orbits. We have carried out an extensive study of the capability of the TTV method in detecting close-in Super-Earth objects, and have identified regions of their parameter-space for which such planets will produce strong TTV signals. We have also studied the effects of interior and exterior mean-motion resonancces on the detectability of Super-Earths, and have been able to show that for a tidally locked Jovian body, a Super-Earth planetary companion has a greater chance of detection if it has a long- term stable orbit with a low eccentricity and a low inclination. Our simulations also indiate that regions may exist in the vicinity of unstable mean-motion resonances, where a Super-Earth object can maintain its orbit for a long time and produce strong signals detectable by the transit-timing variations method. We present the results of our study, and discuss the capability of TTV method in detecting super-Earth objects in more detail. This work has been supported by NASA Astrobiology Institute through cooperative agreement NNA04CC08A with the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii for NH.

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