Extrasolar Planet Research at the LSW

Astrometry:

The LSW is part of an international consortium which builds Differential Delay Lines (DDL's) to be used with the PRIMA instrument at the VLTI on Paranal in Chile. The consortium also is responsible for writing the astrometric software for PRIMA data reduction. The goal of these efforts is to enable microarcsecond astrometry with PRIMA.

In return for its contribution, the consortium receives guaranteed observing nights with PRIMA from ESO, with which the consortium will carry out an astrometric planet search (ESPRI).

Radial Velocities:

AT the LSW a precise radial velocity survey of a sample of about 360 G and K giant stars is carried out, using the Hamilton High Resolution Spectrograph in conjunction with the small CAT Telescope at Lick Observatory. The goal is to search for substellar companions (extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs) in this sample, and to compare the properties of the identified substellar companions to those found around main-sequence stars in order to investigate the effect of primary star mass.

The survey has started in 1999, and over 10'000 spectra have been collected already. Several substellar companions have been found. We continue to follow up on some very interesting radial velocity curves with our monthly observing campaigns, and expect some new and exciting results as we start to probe longer and longer periods.

last updated: May 2007, by Sabine Reffert