Final Report Summary - EXOEARTHS (EXtra-solar planets and stellar astrophysics: towards the detection of Other Earths)
The detection of now almost 2000 extrasolar planets orbiting solar-like stars opened the window to a new field of astrophysics. Many projects to search for Earth-like planets are currently under way, using a huge battery of telescopes and instruments. New instrumentation is also being developed towards this goal for use in both ground- and space-based based facilities.
The EXOEarths project aimed at doing frontier research to explore several aspects in the interface between stellar astrophysics and exoplanet research. In particular, we proposed to i) explore in unique detail the astrophysical (stellar) limitations for the detection and characterization of other planets, having in mind the detection of Earth-like planets and to ii) develop and apply software packages aiming at the study of the properties of the planet-host stars, having in mind the full characterization of the newfound planets, as well as understanding planet formation processes. In parallel, the team had the goal of participating in state-of-the-art planet search and characterization efforts, using the best existing facilities. The study of the aspects described above is actually considered fundamental to improve our capacity to detect, study, and characterize new very low mass extra-solar planets.
All the aspects of the proposed research have been addressed. The major conclusions of our work can be summarized as follows:
1) Stellar sources of noise must be taken into account for the detection and characterization of planets orbiting other stars. New strategies to collect the data were presented that can mitigate the problem of stellar “signals”. Methods were also developed to correct for the noise. We can conclude that the avenue is now open to allow us to efficiently detect and characterize Earth-like planets orbiting other suns.
2) The study of planet-host stars is fundamental for the full characterization of planetary systems. We have discovered novel correlations between the properties of planets (e.g. frequency in the Galaxy, orbital configuration) and those of their host stars (e.g. chemical abundances). New methods to derive precise stellar parameters and abundances for FGK and M dwarfs were explored and proposed. These new methods will help to make the exploration of large samples of stars possible (e.g. like those that will be part of the PLATO2.0 mission), and to derive the properties of exoplanets with a unique precision.
From a very general perspective we can certainly say that the results achieved by the team have strongly contributed to the understanding that planets, and in particular planets like our Earth, are common in our Galaxy.
The EXOEarths project aimed at doing frontier research to explore several aspects in the interface between stellar astrophysics and exoplanet research. In particular, we proposed to i) explore in unique detail the astrophysical (stellar) limitations for the detection and characterization of other planets, having in mind the detection of Earth-like planets and to ii) develop and apply software packages aiming at the study of the properties of the planet-host stars, having in mind the full characterization of the newfound planets, as well as understanding planet formation processes. In parallel, the team had the goal of participating in state-of-the-art planet search and characterization efforts, using the best existing facilities. The study of the aspects described above is actually considered fundamental to improve our capacity to detect, study, and characterize new very low mass extra-solar planets.
All the aspects of the proposed research have been addressed. The major conclusions of our work can be summarized as follows:
1) Stellar sources of noise must be taken into account for the detection and characterization of planets orbiting other stars. New strategies to collect the data were presented that can mitigate the problem of stellar “signals”. Methods were also developed to correct for the noise. We can conclude that the avenue is now open to allow us to efficiently detect and characterize Earth-like planets orbiting other suns.
2) The study of planet-host stars is fundamental for the full characterization of planetary systems. We have discovered novel correlations between the properties of planets (e.g. frequency in the Galaxy, orbital configuration) and those of their host stars (e.g. chemical abundances). New methods to derive precise stellar parameters and abundances for FGK and M dwarfs were explored and proposed. These new methods will help to make the exploration of large samples of stars possible (e.g. like those that will be part of the PLATO2.0 mission), and to derive the properties of exoplanets with a unique precision.
From a very general perspective we can certainly say that the results achieved by the team have strongly contributed to the understanding that planets, and in particular planets like our Earth, are common in our Galaxy.