M Dwarf Flares: Exoplanet Implications

Details M Dwarf Flares: Exoplanet Implications M Dwarf Flares: Exoplanet Implications

Feb 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011noao.prop..106w&link_type=abstract

NOAO Proposal ID #2011A-0106

Computer Science

Scientific paper

M dwarfs are attractive stars for exoplanet transit research as their low luminosities and small stellar radii could enable detection of super-Earths residing in their habitable zones. M dwarf flare events can cause <0.1 to 6.0 magnitude flux enhancements in the optical U- band, which is significantly higher than the predicted transit depths of super-Earths (~0.005 magnitude flux decrease). While Solar flares have been observed to cause infrared continuum enhancements (Xu et al 2006); surprisingly, it is not known whether energetic flares associated with M dwarfs can induce IR variability in filters relevant to future transiting exoplanet characterization studies (e.g. using JWST). We propose to monitor the optical & IR flux of a M dwarf known to regularly flare, to determine what effect flares could have on future IR characterization studies of M dwarf exoplanets. This proposal represents a resubmission of our approved 2009B program, which lost >80% of its on-sky time due to Tropical Storm Olaf (but did demonstrate the ability to achieve 5 milli-mag IR photometry with the KPNO 2.1m). We request 5 nights in 2011A to complete our science goals.

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