Transit Timing Observations From Kepler: Ii. Confirmation of Two Multiplanet Systems via a Non-Parametric Correlation Analysis
View/ Open
Author
Ford, Eric B.
Fabrycky, Daniel C.
Steffen, Jason H.
Carter, Joshua A.
Fressin, Francois
Lissauer, Jack J.
Moorhead, Althea V.
Morehead, Robert C.
Ragozzine, Darin
Rowe, Jason F.
Welsh, William F.
Allen, Christopher
Batalha, Natalie M.
Borucki, William J.
Bryson, Stephen T.
Buchhave, Lars A.
Burke, Christopher J.
Caldwell, Douglas A.
Clarke, Bruce D.
Cochran, William D.
Désert, Jean-Michel
Endl, Michael
Everett, Mark E.
Fischer, Debra A.
Gautier, Thomas N.
Gilliland, Ron L.
Jenkins, Jon M.
Haas, Michael R.
Horch, Elliott
Howell, Steve B.
Ibrahim, Khadeejah A.
Isaacson, Howard
Koch, David G.
Li, Jie
Lucas, Philip
MacQueen, Phillip J.
Marcy, Geoffrey W.
McCauliff, Sean
Mullally, Fergal R.
Quinn, Samuel N.
Quintana, Elisa
Shporer, Avi
Still, Martin
Tenenbaum, Peter
Thompson, Susan E.
Twicken, Joseph D.
Wohler, Bill
Wohler, Bill
Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors.
Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/113Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Ford, Eric B., Daniel C. Fabrycky, Jason H. Steffen, Joshua A. Carter, Francois Fressin, Matthew J. Holman, Jack J. Lissauer, et al. 2012. Transit Timing Observations From Kepler: Ii. Confirmation of Two Multiplanet Systems via a Non-Parametric Correlation Analysis. The Astrophysical Journal 750 (2) (April 23): 113. doi:10.1088/0004-637x/750/2/113.Abstract
We present a new method for confirming transiting planets based on the combination of transit timing variations (TTVs) and dynamical stability. Correlated TTVs provide evidence that the pair of bodies is in the same physical system. Orbital stability provides upper limits for the masses of the transiting companions that are in the planetary regime. This paper describes a non-parametric technique for quantifying the statistical significance of TTVs based on the correlation of two TTV data sets. We apply this method to an analysis of the TTVs of two stars with multiple transiting planet candidates identified by Kepler. We confirm four transiting planets in two multiple-planet systems based on their TTVs and the constraints imposed by dynamical stability. An additional three candidates in these same systems are not confirmed as planets, but are likely to be validated as real planets once further observations and analyses are possible. If all were confirmed, these systems would be near 4:6:9 and 2:4:6:9 period commensurabilities. Our results demonstrate that TTVs provide a powerful tool for confirming transiting planets, including low-mass planets and planets around faint stars for which Doppler follow-up is not practical with existing facilities. Continued Kepler observations will dramatically improve the constraints on the planet masses and orbits and provide sensitivity for detecting additional non-transiting planets. If Kepler observations were extended to eight years, then a similar analysis could likely confirm systems with multiple closely spaced, small transiting planets in or near the habitable zone of solar-type stars.Other Sources
https://arxiv.org/pdf/1201.5409.pdfTerms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Open Access Policy Articles, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#OAPCitable link to this page
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:29990192
Collections
- FAS Scholarly Articles [18256]
Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)