The search for orbital decay in hot Jupiters
Name
1082863704-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
9.56 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
6b35444281ab10cda59ce2741120feaf
Author(s)
Patra, Kishore Chandra
Advisor(s)
Nevin Weinberg and Joshua N. Winn.
Date Issued
2018
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
We summarize our results, so far, in the search for orbital decay in exoplanets. Orbital decay is the gradual shrinkage of the planetary orbit due to tidal dissipation. We ranked currently known exoplanetary systems according to the theoretical orbital decay rate and trimmed the list down to 12 best targets. We collected new transit light curves for the targets visible in the northern hemisphere using the 1.2 m telescope at the Fred L. Whipple Observatory, Arizona. For the southern targets, we are currently collaborating with the Las Cumbres Observatory Telescope Network to obtain new transits. We analyzed the timing residuals for each target, seeking evidence for any change in the orbital period. Currently, the best candidate for orbital decay is WASP-12 b with an observed period derivative ... . However, we find that a few other possible models, including apsidal precession, nodal precession and color-dependent transit times, cannot be ruled out completely. Continous monitoring of WASP-12 b is necessary in the future to resolve the current conundrum. The search for orbital decay is still in its infancy for most other targets. However, we aim to produce a few transit times for each target to serve as an "anchor" for when TESS relays back more high quality light curves.
Description
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics, 2018.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 87-93).
Subjects
Physics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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