The frequency of low-mass exoplanets III: toward η⊕ at short periods
Article
Article Title | The frequency of low-mass exoplanets III: toward η⊕ at short periods |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 1057 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Wittenmyer, Robert A. (Author), Tinney, C. G. (Author), Butler, R. P. (Author), O'Toole, Simon J. (Author), Jones, H. R. A. (Author), Carter, B. D. (Author), Bailey, J. (Author) and Horner, J. (Author) |
Journal Title | The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics |
Journal Citation | 738 (1), pp. 1-6 |
Article Number | 81 |
Number of Pages | 6 |
Year | 2011 |
Publisher | IOP Publishing |
Place of Publication | United States |
ISSN | 0004-637X |
1538-4357 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/738/1/81 |
Web Address (URL) | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/738/1/81 |
Abstract | Determining the occurrence rate of 'super-Earth' planets (m sin i < 10 M⊕) is a critically important step on the path toward determining the frequency of Earth-like planets (η⊕), and hence the uniqueness of our solar system. Current radial-velocity surveys, achieving precisions of 1 m s–1, are now able to detect super-Earths and provide meaningful estimates of their occurrence rate. We present an analysis of 67 solar-type stars from the Anglo-Australian Planet Search specifically targeted for very high precision observations. When corrected for incompleteness, we find that the planet occurrence rate increases sharply with decreasing planetary mass. Our results are consistent with those from other surveys: in periods shorter than 50 days, we find that 3.0% of stars host a giant (msin i > 100 M ⊕) planet, and that 17.4% of stars host a planet with msin i < 10 M ⊕. The preponderance of low-mass planets in short-period orbits is in conflict with formation simulations in which the majority of super-Earths reside at larger orbital distances. This work gives a hint as to the size of η⊕, but to make meaningful predictions on the frequency of terrestrial planets in longer, potentially habitable orbits, low-mass terrestrial planet searches at periods of 100-200 days must be made an urgent priority for ground-based Doppler planet searches in the years ahead. |
Keywords | planetary systems; radial velocities |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 510109. Stellar astronomy and planetary systems |
519999. Other physical sciences not elsewhere classified | |
510101. Astrobiology | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | University of New South Wales |
Carnegie Institution of Washington, United States | |
Anglo-Australian Observatory, Australia | |
University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom | |
Department of Biological and Physical Sciences | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1181/the-frequency-of-low-mass-exoplanets-iii-toward-at-short-periods
Download files
2423
total views988
total downloads8
views this month1
downloads this month