173 research outputs found
Which Radial Velocity Exoplanets Have Undetected Outer Companions?
(Abridged) The observed radial velocity (RV) eccentricity distribution for
extrasolar planets in single-planet systems shows that a significant fraction
of planets are eccentric (). Here we investigate the effects on an RV
planet's eccentricity produced by undetected outer companions. We have carried
out Monte Carlo simulations of mock RV data to understand this effect and
predict its impact on the observed distribution. We first quantify the
statistical effect of undetected outer companions and show that this alone
cannot explain the observed distribution. We then modify the simulations to
consist of two populations, one of zero-eccentricity planets in double-planet
systems and the other of single planets drawn from an eccentric distribution.
Our simulations show that a good fit to the observed distribution is obtained
with 45% zero-eccentricity double-planets and 55% single eccentric planets.
Matching the observed distribution allows us to determine the probability that
a known RV planet's orbital eccentricity has been biased by an undetected
wide-separation companion. Our simulations show that moderately-eccentric
planets, with and , have a and probability, respectively, of having an undetected outer companion. We
encourage both high-contrast direct imaging and RV follow-up surveys of known
RV planets with moderate eccentricities to test our predictions and look for
previously undetected outer companions.Comment: 23 pages (12 text, 2 tables, 9 figures). Accepted to the
Astrophysical Journal 30 June 200
Resolved Mid-Infrared Emission Around AB Aur and V892 Tau with Adaptive Optics Nulling Interferometric Observations
We present the results of adaptive optics nulling interferometric
observations of two Herbig Ae stars, AB Aur and V892 Tau. Our observations at
10.3 microns show resolved circumstellar emission from both sources. Further
analysis of the AB Aur emission suggests that there is an inclined disk
surrounding the star. The diameter of the disk is derived to be 24 to 30 AU
with an inclination of 45 to 65 degrees from face-on, and a major-axis PA of 30
+/- 15 degrees (E of N). Differences in the physical characteristics between
the mid-IR emission and emission at other wavelengths (near-IR and millimeter),
found in previous studies, suggest a complex structure for AB Aur's
circumstellar environment, which may not be explained by a disk alone. The
similarity in the observed size of AB Aur's resolved emission and that of
another Herbig Ae star, HD 100546, is likely coincidental, as their respective
evolutionary states and spectral energy distributions suggest significantly
different circumstellar environments.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
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