A Unified Distribution of Extrasolar Planets from 0.01 to 1000 AU

这个项目将检查对系外行星(围绕其他恒星运行的行星)的直接成像调查结果，并从一颗恒星向外扩展到距母星1000个天文单位的行星分布，其中一个天文单位大约是太阳和地球之间的平均距离。将获得新的直接成像观测，还将使用档案来源的数据，以及通过微透镜、径向速度和凌日技术等其他手段探测到的行星的轨道测量。如果可行，将对新探测到的行星进行后续光谱分析。建模工作的重点将是行星是否连续分布，或者是否存在明显的重大突变。该团队还将寻找行星距离人口作为恒星质量、年龄和铁含量的函数的变化。这些研究的结果旨在为核心-吸积行星形成的标准模型提供强有力的测试。作为通过直接成像识别新行星和排除背景物体的过程的一部分，该项目预计还将揭示新的高自行星系晕恒星。该项目将提供对系外行星和恒星天文学界有用的公开可用的软件工具。PI将指导和指导本科生、两名博士生和一名博士后研究员。

This project will examine results from direct-imaging surveys of exoplanets (planets orbiting other stars), and produce a distribution of planets from a star that expands out to 1000 astronomical units from the parent star, where an astronomical unit is approximately the average distance between the Sun and Earth. New direct-imaging observations will be obtained, and data will also be used from archival sources, as well as orbital measurements of planets detected by other means, such as microlensing, radial velocity and transit techniques. When feasible, follow-up spectroscopy will be performed of newly detected planets. The modeling efforts will focus on whether there is a continuous distribution of planets, or instead, any significant breaks are evident. The team will also search for variations of planetary distance populations as a function of stellar mass, age and iron content. The outcomes from these studies are intended to provide strong tests of standard models of core-accretion planet formation. As part of the process of identifying new planets from direct-imaging, and ruling out background objects, the project is also expected to reveal new high proper motion galactic halo stars. This project will provide publicly-available software tools useful to the exoplanet and stellar stronomy community. The PI will supervise and mentor undergraduate students, two doctoral students, and a postdoctoral researcher.