Astrometric Search for Exoplanets

麻省理工学院系外行星的天文测量搜索将开展一项观测计划，致力于在50颗邻近/明亮的双星周围寻找系外行星。这里的关键是使用帕洛玛试验台干涉仪，这是唯一的双光束光学干涉仪存在。使用每个双星中的邻近伴星作为参考，10-20微弧秒的天文测量精度将是可能的（几乎比单碟光学系统好100倍）。因此，周期为几年的土星-木星质量行星将被探测到（如果长周期能达到10微弧秒，甚至可能是天王星-海王星质量）。使用传统的光谱学技术对这种近距离双星进行搜索是极其困难的，在这里发现的任何行星都将对约束行星形成理论具有重大价值。这项工作的第二个结果是改善了目标列表中几十个近距离双星的轨道（10-100倍），当与径向速度相结合时，将导致更高精度的质量。一名研究生将得到干涉测量技术方面的支持和培训。这是一个快速发展的领域，预计未来对专业知识的需求很大。

AST-0507590Bernard BurkeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyAstrometric Search for ExoplanetsABTSRACTAn observing program dedicated to a search for extrasolar planets around 50 nearby/bright binarystars will be carried out. Key here is the use of the Palomar Testbed Interferometer, which is theonly dual beam optical interferometer in existence. Using the nearby companion in each binary as areference, astrometric precision of 10-20 micro-arcseconds will be possible (almost 100 times betterthan is possible with a single dish optical system). Saturn-Jupiter mass planets with periods of a fewyears will therefore be detectable (possibly even Uranus-Neptune mass if 10 micro-arcseconds canbe reached over long periods). Such a search of close binaries would be extremely difficult usingtraditional spectroscopic techniques and any planets found here will be of great value inconstraining planet formation theories. A secondary outcome of this work is improved (by factors of10-100) orbits of dozens of close binaries from the target list, which when combined with radialvelocities will lead to higher precision masses.A graduate student will be supported and be trained in interferometric techniques. This is a rapidlygrowing field and a significant demand for expertise is expected in the future.