Seminar @ DF-AS - S.B. Howell - Revealing the Fundamental Properties of Exoplanets and their Host Stars with High-resolution Imaging

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05/08/2018 - 11:30
Event until: 
05/08/2018 - 12:30
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05/04/2018
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Trieste

Our team has built and delivered new high-resolution imaging instruments to the NOAO WIYN and Gemini North telescopes.  These new visible light, dual-channel speckle interferometric instruments provide the highest resolution imaging available on any single telescope, even those in space. This talk will focus on our long term exoplanet characterization program in which we study the host star environment and its effect on exoplanet properties. I will discuss measurements of the distribution in brightness and separation of exoplanet host star systems as well as characterization of the radii and densities of small, rocky exoplanets. We find that 50% of exoplanet host stars are binaries, similar to that in field stars, with the majority of bound companions orbiting with stellar separations of less than 0.2”, typically <10 AUs. I will present our observational program and the information it provides on stellar parameters, exoplanet validation, true exoplanet size distributions and occurrence rates, and planet formation scenarios.

Venue: 

Villa Bazzoni

Information: 

More info here.

Last update: 05-04-2018 - 16:04
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