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

大多数已知的系外行星都是通过行星在星星前面经过时星光的减少（从我们的角度来看）或通过恒星光谱中的多普勒波长偏移而被发现的。这个团队将应用一种完全不同的方法：对一颗星星进行成像，以确定它在轨道运行时由于行星的牵引而产生的摆动。该团队将使用CHARA和ESO的VLTI光学干涉测量阵列来观察70个不同的双星星星系统。这是一群不太可能用其他方法探测到的系外行星。该计划将为研究生完成博士论文提供基础。该团队将通过在密歇根州农村和NASCAR活动中的巡回展示进行新颖的外展活动。该团队将对70个双热星星（质量为1太阳质量）系统进行调查，以寻找轨道约为1 Au的大质量系外行星和伴棕矮星。这次阿尔马达调查将使用光学干涉测量法，在北方半球使用CHARA阵列，在南半球使用ESO的VLTI阵列，以探测由于轨道运行的大质量系外行星引起的恒星摆动。他们的调查将包括双星之间的不同分离距离，以研究双星如何抑制或增强行星的形成作为恒星分离的函数。他们还将调查潜在的系外行星和低质量褐矮星伴星的三元系统。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估。

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.