Forever alone? Testing single eccentric planetary systems for multiple companions

Robert A. Wittenmyer*, Songhu Wang, Jonathan Horner, C. G. Tinney, R. P. Butler, H. R A Jones, S. J. O'Toole, J. Bailey, B. D. Carter, G. S. Salter, D. Wright, Ji Lin Zhou

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    65 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Determining the orbital eccentricity of an extrasolar planet is critically important for understanding the system's dynamical environment and history. However, eccentricity is often poorly determined or entirely mischaracterized due to poor observational sampling, low signal-to-noise, and/or degeneracies with other planetary signals. Some systems previously thought to contain a single, moderate-eccentricity planet have been shown, after further monitoring, to host two planets on nearly circular orbits. We investigate published apparent single-planet systems to see if the available data can be better fit by two lower-eccentricity planets. We identify nine promising candidate systems and perform detailed dynamical tests to confirm the stability of the potential new multiple-planet systems. Finally, we compare the expected orbits of the single- and double-planet scenarios to better inform future observations of these interesting systems.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number2
    Pages (from-to)1-16
    Number of pages16
    JournalThe Astrophysical Journal. Supplement Series
    Volume208
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2013

    Keywords

    • planetary systems
    • techniques: radial velocities

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