Title:
Direct Observation of Hot Jupiters and Other Faint Companions with the VLTI
Authors:
Coudé du Foresto, V.
Affiliation:
Observatoire de Paris (DESPA), 92195 Meudon Cedex
Journal:
From Extrasolar Planets to Cosmology: The VLT Opening Symposium, Proceedings of the ESO Symposium held at Antofagasta, Chile, 1-4 March 1999. Edited by Jacqueline Bergeron and Alvio Renzini. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2000. p. 560.
Publication Date:
00/2000
Origin:
AUTHOR
Bibliographic Code:
2000fepc.conf..560C

Abstract

The existence of Jupiter-size planets very close to their parent stars (two examples of which are 51 Peg and τ Boo) creates a challenge for theories of planetary formation and structure. Only a direct measurement of their mass and luminosity (not accessible via the current radial velocity techniques) can help discriminate between the different models that have been proposed for this class of objects. Direct observation of such extrasolar planets with an infrared interferometer is a difficult task because of the high dynamic range required (around 104), but not impossible if the seeing noise is taken care of by spatial filtering and fringe tracking. A method is proposed for the VLTI, analogous to a synchronous detection using radial velocity orbital phase information. Simulations show that its sensitivity would be sufficient to detect hot Jupiters with a small spectral resolution.