ARMADA: A Unique Hunt for Exoplanets and Low-Mass Companions around Hot Stars

大多数已知的系外行星要么是通过行星在恒星前面运行时恒星光的减少(从我们的角度来看)，要么是通过恒星光谱中的多普勒波长变化来发现的。该团队将应用一种完全不同的方法：为一颗恒星成像，以确定其由于行星在轨道上的拖拽而产生的摆动。该团队将使用CHARA和ESO的VLTI光学干涉测量阵列来观测70个不同的双星系统。这是一群用其他方法不太可能探测到的系外行星。该课程将为研究生完成博士论文奠定基础。该团队将通过在密歇根州乡村和NASCAR活动中的巡回展示来进行新的外展活动。该团队将对70个双星热星(质量为1太阳质量)系统进行调查，以搜索大约1AU轨道上的大质量系外行星和伴生的棕矮星。这次ARMADA调查将使用北半球的查拉阵列和南半球的ESO的VLTI阵列的光学干涉测量来探测由于绕大质量系外行星轨道而产生的恒星摆动。他们的调查将包括双星之间不同的分离距离，以检验双星之间的双星分离如何抑制或促进行星的形成。他们还将调查潜在系外行星和低质量棕矮星伴星的三元系统。这一奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定任务，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Most known exoplanets have been discovered either through the decrease in starlight when planets transit in front of a star (from our perspective) or through Doppler wavelength shifts in the stellar spectrum. This team will apply a completely different method: imaging a star to determine its wobble due to the tug of a planet as it orbits. The team will use the CHARA and ESO’s VLTI optical interferometry arrays to observe 70 different binary star systems. This is a population of exoplanets that is unlikely to be detectable with other methods. This program will provide the basis for a graduate student to complete a PhD thesis. The team will conduct novel outreach activities through a traveling display in rural Michigan and at NASCAR events.The team will conduct a survey of 70 binary hot star (mass 1 solar mass) systems to search for massive exoplanets and companion brown dwarfs at orbits of approximately 1 AU. This ARMADA survey will use optical interferometry with the CHARA array in the Northern Hemisphere and ESO’s VLTI array in the Southern Hemisphere to detect stellar wobble due to orbiting massive exoplanets. Their survey will include different separation distances between binary stars in order to examine how binarity might suppress or enhance planet formation as a function of stellar separation of the pair. They will also survey trinary systems for potential exoplanet and low-mass brown dwarf companions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.