Computer Science
Scientific paper
May 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007sptz.prop40255m&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #40255
Computer Science
Scientific paper
We propose to confirm the presence, and measure the mass, of the first planet discovered around a white dwarf. The planet was first detected as a periodic change in the observed arrival times of the stellar pulsations as it orbited the common center of mass of the system. The measured M sin(i) of the planet is 2 Jupiter masses and the orbital separation is 2.3 AU. We argue based on the pulsation properties of the star why we expect the orbit to be highly inclined and the true mass closer to 9 Jupiter masses. The low luminosity of the white dwarf makes it possible to directly detect the light from the planet as an excess flux in the 4.5um band of IRAC, providing an independent test of the existence of the planet. This is a new approach to direct detection and offers the first chance to test models of planetary atmospheres against objects analogous to our solar system. We describe in detail our efforts to minimize the systematic error in our observations and achieve a 1% photometric accuracy. With this sensitivity we will detect a planet with mass as low as 5 Jupiter masses with confidence of 3 sigma by comparing the magnitude of the excess to models.
Burrows Adam
Kuchner Marc
Mullally Fergal
Reach Bill
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