Detecting Outer Planets in Edge-On Orbits: Combining Radial Velocity and Astrometric Techniques

Abstract

The astrometric and radial velocity techniques of extra-solar planet detection attempt to detect the periodic reflex motion of the parent star by extracting this periodic signal from a time-sampled set of observations. The extraction is generally accomplished using periodogram analysis or the functionally equivalent technique of Least Squares fitting of sinusoids. In this paper, we use a Frequentist approach to examine the sensitivity of Least Squares technique when applied to a combination of radial velocity and astrometric observations. We derive a semi-analytical expression for the sensitivity and show that the combined approach yields significantly better sensitivity than either technique on its own. We discuss the ramifications of this result to upcoming astrometric surveys with FAME, the Keck Interferometer, and SIM.

11 pages, 4 figures (5 EPS files)

References in corpus (2)

• Sensitivity of the Radial Velocity Technique in Detecting Outer Planets
• Sensitivity of the Astrometric Technique in Detecting Outer Planets

Cited by in corpus (15)

• Taking the Measure of the Universe: Precision Astrometry with SIM PlanetQuest
• Astrometric Methods and Instrumentation to Identify and Characterize Extrasolar Planets: A Review
• Planet finding prospects for the Space Interferometry Mission
• Astrometry with the Keck-Interferometer: the ASTRA project and its science
• Detection of Planetary and Stellar Companions to Neighboring Stars via a Combination of Radial Velocity and Direct Imaging Techniques
• Precision Masses of the low-mass binary system GJ 623
• Narrow-Angle Astrometry with the Space Interferometry Mission: The Search for Extra-solar Planets. I. Detection and Characterization of Single Planets
• The Effects of Multiple Companions on the Efficiency of the SIM Planet Searches
• Detecting the Signatures of Uranus and Neptune
• Narrow-Angle Astrometry with the Space Interferometry Mission: The Search for Extra-Solar Planets. II. Detection and Characterization of Planetary Systems
• Choice of Observing Schedules for Astrometric Planet Searches
• Activity time series of old stars from late F to early K. V. Effect on exoplanet detectability with high-precision astrometry
• The complementarity of astrometric and radial velocity exoplanet observations - Determining exoplanet mass with astrometric snapshots
• Science with the Keck Interferometer ASTRA Program
• A Wide Orbit Exoplanet OGLE-2012-BLG-0838Lb