Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets: Can We Detect Them Already?

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With the example of Proxima Centauri we discuss the feasibility of detecting terrestrial planets (1 to a few M_Earth) using the high precision radial velocity (RV) technique. If a very high RV precision for M stars is achieved even planets with these extremely low masses become detectable. For Proxima Cen (M5V), one of the prime targets of our M-stars planet search program using the UVES spectrograph & iodine cell at the ESO VLT UT2, we obtain a long term RV precision of 2.5 m/s. Based on numerical simulations we determine that this level of precision would have already allowed us to detect planets with m sin i = 4 to 6 M_Earth inside the habitable zone of Proxima Cen.
4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Conference Proceedings "Scientific Frontiers in Research on Extrasolar Planets", Drake Deming (ed)

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Astrophysics

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http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/4900

Consulte el texto completo en el siguiente enlace:

https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0208462
 http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0208462

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arXiv