Speaker:
Brendan Bowler
Institution:
Caltech
Speaker Link:
Date:
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Time:
4:00 pm
Location:
NS2 1201
ABSTRACT:
High-contrast imaging is a powerful tool to probe the outer architecture of planetary systems and directly study the atmospheres of extrasolar planets. Adaptive optics imaging surveys have so far primarily focused on intermediate- and high-mass stars, revealing a handful of self-luminous planets. Yet M dwarfs have largely been neglected, despite having more favorable planet-star contrasts and representing about 75% of all stars. I will discuss current constraints on planetary systems beyond ~10 AU, focusing in particular on discoveries and new statistical results from the Planets Around Low-Mass Stars (PALMS) high-contrast AO imaging survey at Keck and Subaru. With a sample size of over 120 young M dwarfs, PALMS is the largest direct imaging planet search in this stellar mass regime. Altogether, complementary planet-finding techniques sensitive to a broad range of separations are beginning to map the complete architecture of giant planets around the most common stars in our galaxy.
Host:
Michael Cooper