Masterpflichtseminar MVSem
'Methods for Detecting Extrasolar Planets'
Prof. Dr. Andreas Quirrenbach & PD Dr. Sabine Reffert
Seminar Plan
- Oct 16, 2015: Introduction, Literature, Assignment of Topics and Dates
- 6 Credit Points, for regular attendance, oral presentation and written report
- Grades are given for talk (50%) and written report (50%)
- Written reports are due tbd.
Tips for Talks
- pre-requiste: read and understand the material very well; if necessary, read additional background material
- think about the key points which you want to deliver, and how to best convey them
- basic elements: introduction (okay to briefly go back to the very basics), main part of the talk explaining the key points, and the conclusions, summing everything up and discussing it
- presentation style: big fonts, high contrast, no typos or grammatical errors
- plots: clear axis labels, description of symbols, reference
- not too many slides (rule of thumb: 1.5-2 minutes per slide), total time roughly half an hour
- grades will be given for
- presentation content and structure (logical)
- slides
- style of presentation
Tips for Reports
- pre-requisite: read and understand the material very well; if necessary, read additional background material. For the report especially it helps to know a little bit more background than just what you write about
- most important: the way the report is written. Everything should be logically connected, making it easy for readers to follow your train of thought.
- at the end, in a concluding section, you should place the current results into context, so that one can assess their significance
- crucial: level of detail - not too much and not too little
- correct use of scientific terms
- explain figures in caption and text
- check for grammar and spelling errors
- reference list at the end; in the text, references should appear e.g. as 'Ortiz et al. 2015'
- rule of thumb: ten pages of text
- electronic versions okay; please email pdf
- please stick to the deadline!
Tentative Schedule
- Oct 16: Organization (SR)
- Oct 23: Kepler's Laws and Classification of Planets (AQ)
reference:
Introduction to Exoplanets by Seager & Lissauer, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 3
Keplerian Orbits and Dynamics of Exoplanets by Murray & Correia, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 15 - Oct 30: Doppler Method: Techniques (SR)
reference:
Radial Velocity Techniques for Exoplanets by Lovis & Fischer, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 27 - Nov 6: Doppler Method: Results (SR)
references:
The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets XXXIV. Occurrence, mass distribution and orbital properties of super-Earths and Neptune-mass planets by Mayor et al. 2011/2012
or
Statistical Distribution of Exoplanets by Cumming, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 191 - Nov 13: Transits: Theory, Ground (SR)
reference:
Exoplanet Transits and Occultations by Winn, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 55 - Nov 20: Transits: Kepler, Plato (AQ)
references:
Kepler Website
Advances in Exoplanet Science from Kepler by Lissauer et al. 2014
The Plato 2.0 Mission by Rauer et al. 2014 - Nov 27: Astrometry: Foundations, Gaia (SR)
references:
Astrometric Detection and Characterization of Exoplanets by Quirrenbach, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 157 - ca. 167
Astrometric Exoplanet Detection with Gaia by Perryman, Hartman, Bakos & Lindegren 2014 - Dec 4: Astrometry, Interferometry (SR)
references:
Astrometric Detection and Characterization of Exoplanets by Quirrenbach, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 167 - ca. 172
Narrow-angle astrometry with PRIMA by Sahlmann et al. 2013
Taking the Measure of the Universe: Precision Astrometry with SIM PlanetQuest by Unwin et al. 2008 - Dec 11: Microlensing (AQ)
reference:
Microlensing by Exoplanets by Gaudi, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 79 - Dec 18: Dynamics in Multi-Planet Systems (SR)
references:
Non-Keplerian Dynamics of Exoplanets by Fabrycky, Exoplanets Book by Sara Seager, p. 271
or
The Long-Term Dynamical Evolution of Planetary Systems by Davies et al. 2014 - Jan 8: Physical Parameters and Bulk Composition (SR)
references:
Occurrence and core-envelope structure of 1-4x Earth-size planets around Sun-like stars by Marcy et al. 2014
Masses, Radii, and Orbits of Small Kepler Planets: The Transition from Gaseous to Rocky Planets by Marcy et al. 2014 - Jan 15: Atmospheric Spectroscopy (AQ)
reference:
Giant Planet Atmospheres by Burrows & Orton, Exoplanet Book by Sara Seager, p. 419 - Jan 22: Coronography: Theory (AQ)
references:
Direct Imaging of Exoplanets by Traub & Oppenheimer, Exoplanet Book by Sara Seager, p. 111 (first part) - Jan 29: Coronography: Instruments and Missions (AQ)
reference:
Direct Imaging of Exoplanets by Traub & Oppenheimer, Exoplanet Book by Sara Seager, p. 111 (second part) - Feb 5: Carmenes (AQ)
Useful Links
- ADS Literature Search
- Exoplanet Databases: www.exoplanets.org (Berkeley) or www.exoplanet.eu (EU)
- Michael Perryman: The Exoplanet Handbook (Encyclopedia)
- Cassen, Guillot, Quirrenbach: Extrasolar Planets (Saas-Fee Advanced Course 31)
- Individual chapters from Sara Seager (ed.): Exoplanets (partially available online)
Questions? email Sabine Reffert at
sreffert@lsw.uni-heidelberg.de or
Andreas Quirrenbach at
aquirrenbach@lsw.uni-heidelberg.de