On Using the Rossiter Effect to Detect Terrestrial Planets

Abstract

We explore the possibility that the transit signature of an Earth-size planet can be detected in spectroscopic velocity shifts via the Rossiter effect. Under optimistic but not unrealistic conditions, it should be possible to detect a large terrestrial-size planet. While not suitable for discovering planets, this method can be used to confirm suspected planets.

7 pages, 6 figures; Figure 2 in the conference proceeding did not reproduce well, so three panels from that 9-panel figure are shown here