Spectroscopic Orbits of Exoplanet Host Binaries
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
RSA
Non PSI Personnel: Steve Howell (Co-Investigator, NASA Ames Research Center), Rachel Matson (Co-Investigator, US Naval Observatory)
External Partners
- NASA Ames Research Center
- US Naval Observatory
Project Description
Overview of the project
We propose to obtain HIRES spectra of close binary stars found to host exoplanets in order to measure the stellar radial velocities. We will combine these velocities with astrometry from speckle interferometry to determine the combined spectroscopic and visual orbit for each system. Our goal is to compare the orbital demographics of exoplanet host binaries to the predictions of numerical simulations and test the dynamical environments where planets can safely form. Simulations show that the presence of a close stellar companion can impact planet formation through the truncation of the protoplanetary disk and the migration of giant planets, and roughly 50% of solar-type exoplanet host stars were found to have a stellar companion, so this study will provide an important step towards understanding the role of multiplicity in planet formation, evolution, and habitability.
Project Tasks
- Measure the binary star radial velocities using a cross correlation algorithm
- Measure the binary star atmospheric parameters using the SpecMatch package
- Compare the atmospheric parameters of each binary to isochrone models to confirm the bound nature of each system
- Combine the velocities & astrometry to determine the spectroscopic and visual orbit for each system