Can we find Earth-mass planets orbiting our nearest star, alpha Centauri?
I will describe a new program at Mt John that aims to find
Earth-mass planets orbiting either alpha Cen A or B, which are solar type
stars in a well known binary. We are measuring precise radial velocities
using the Hercules spectrograph, which I will describe. At least 10,000
spectra at S/N ~ 500:1 giving 1 m/s precision will be needed. Theoretical
studies show that Earth mass planets can have stable orbits to 3 AU and that
such planets will form from a proto-planetary disk, for a wide range of
initial conditions.
I will also discuss the close binary nu Octantis where we have apparently
found a Jupiter-mass planet in a stable resonant orbit with just two-fifths
of the period of the binary star.
Back to the seminar webpage.
