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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
61

KELT: The Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope

Pepper, Joshua Aaron 22 June 2007 (has links)
No description available.
62

Caracterização dinâmica dos sistemas múltiplos de planetas extrassolares / Dynamic characterization of multiple extrasolar planetary systems

Oliveira, Victor Hugo da Cunha 11 May 2010 (has links)
O presente trabalho tem por objetivo a caracterização dinâmica dos sistemas múltiplos de planetas extrassolares. O critério de classificação escolhido é baseado na proposta publicada inicialmente em Ferraz-Mello et al. (2005) e posteriormente modicada em Michtchenko et al. (2007). Para a obtenção dos parâmetros planetários orbitais foi feita uma pesquisa em diversos catálogos e artigos disponíveis para posterior criação de um catálogo próprio. Este incluiu somente sistemas extrassolares múlltiplos, ou seja, sistemas que contêm dois ou mais planetas orbitando a estrela. Foram feitas simulações numéricas de estabilidade dinâmica dos sistemas do catálogo próprio com tempos de integração de 200 mil até 21 milhões de anos. Ao todo, foram analisados 37 sistemas múltiplos extrassolares, divididos em 50 subsistemas considerando-se a estrela e dois planetas em órbitas consecutivas. Ao todo, foram analisados 37 sistemas múltiplos extrassolares, divididos em 50 subsistemas considerando-se a estrela e dois planetas em órbitas consecutivas. Estes foram submetidos ao total de 68 simulações computacionais. Os sistemas que apresentaram um cenário de estabilidade dinâmica foram posteriormente separados em três classes: ressonantes, seculares ou hierárquicos. Mais ainda, o comportamento secular desses sistemas foi classificado conforme o movimento do ângulo \"Deltavarpi\" : oscilatório em torno de 0º, oscilatório em torno de 180º ou circulatório. Os resultados das simulações são mostrados para todos os sistemas estudados. / The aim of the present work is a dynamic classification of multiple extrasolar systems. The characterization criterion used is based on a criterion proposed initially in Ferraz-Mello et al. (2005) and modified in Michtchenko et al. (2007). To obtain orbital parameters of the extrasolar systems, a search was done into several available catalogues and the scientific literature. A new catalogue was compiled containing only multiple extrasolar systems, that is, systems with two or more planets in orbit of the host star. Numerical simulations of dynamical stability of the cataloged systems were done considering pairs of planets on the consecutive orbits. Totally, 37 multiple extrasolar systems were analyzed, decomposed in 50 sub-systems each one consisting of the host star and two planets. The time evolution of those were simulated over time spans from 200 thousand years to 21 million years in 68 numerical simulations. The systems which have presented a dynamical stability were subsequently classified in resonants, secular or hierarchical and their secular behavior was classified with respect of the angle \"Deltavarpi\" as oscillation around 0º, oscillation around 180º or circulation. The result of all simulations are presented here for the analyzed systems.
63

Caracterização dinâmica dos sistemas múltiplos de planetas extrassolares / Dynamic characterization of multiple extrasolar planetary systems

Victor Hugo da Cunha Oliveira 11 May 2010 (has links)
O presente trabalho tem por objetivo a caracterização dinâmica dos sistemas múltiplos de planetas extrassolares. O critério de classificação escolhido é baseado na proposta publicada inicialmente em Ferraz-Mello et al. (2005) e posteriormente modicada em Michtchenko et al. (2007). Para a obtenção dos parâmetros planetários orbitais foi feita uma pesquisa em diversos catálogos e artigos disponíveis para posterior criação de um catálogo próprio. Este incluiu somente sistemas extrassolares múlltiplos, ou seja, sistemas que contêm dois ou mais planetas orbitando a estrela. Foram feitas simulações numéricas de estabilidade dinâmica dos sistemas do catálogo próprio com tempos de integração de 200 mil até 21 milhões de anos. Ao todo, foram analisados 37 sistemas múltiplos extrassolares, divididos em 50 subsistemas considerando-se a estrela e dois planetas em órbitas consecutivas. Ao todo, foram analisados 37 sistemas múltiplos extrassolares, divididos em 50 subsistemas considerando-se a estrela e dois planetas em órbitas consecutivas. Estes foram submetidos ao total de 68 simulações computacionais. Os sistemas que apresentaram um cenário de estabilidade dinâmica foram posteriormente separados em três classes: ressonantes, seculares ou hierárquicos. Mais ainda, o comportamento secular desses sistemas foi classificado conforme o movimento do ângulo \"Deltavarpi\" : oscilatório em torno de 0º, oscilatório em torno de 180º ou circulatório. Os resultados das simulações são mostrados para todos os sistemas estudados. / The aim of the present work is a dynamic classification of multiple extrasolar systems. The characterization criterion used is based on a criterion proposed initially in Ferraz-Mello et al. (2005) and modified in Michtchenko et al. (2007). To obtain orbital parameters of the extrasolar systems, a search was done into several available catalogues and the scientific literature. A new catalogue was compiled containing only multiple extrasolar systems, that is, systems with two or more planets in orbit of the host star. Numerical simulations of dynamical stability of the cataloged systems were done considering pairs of planets on the consecutive orbits. Totally, 37 multiple extrasolar systems were analyzed, decomposed in 50 sub-systems each one consisting of the host star and two planets. The time evolution of those were simulated over time spans from 200 thousand years to 21 million years in 68 numerical simulations. The systems which have presented a dynamical stability were subsequently classified in resonants, secular or hierarchical and their secular behavior was classified with respect of the angle \"Deltavarpi\" as oscillation around 0º, oscillation around 180º or circulation. The result of all simulations are presented here for the analyzed systems.
64

Dynamique séculaire du problème des trois corps appliqué aux systèmes extrasolaires / Secular dynamics of the exoplanetary three-body problem

Libert, Anne-Sophie 24 October 2007 (has links)
La découverte de planètes extrasolaires d'excentricités importantes ravive l'intérêt pour la dynamique des systèmes planétaires. Ce travail a pour objet l'étude analytique du problème séculaire des trois corps, grâce à une généralisation de la théorie de Laplace-Lagrange obtenue en poussant le développement de la perturbation à un ordre largement supérieur en excentricités et en inclinaisons. Nous montrons que cette approche est apte à décrire la dynamique séculaire d'un système planétaire formé de deux planètes hors résonance en moyen mouvement. Une vérification analytique de la proximité du système à une quelconque résonance en moyen mouvement est également entreprise. Tant dans le cas de systèmes coplanaires que de systèmes tridimensionnels, deux optiques sont poursuivies: d'une part, l'analyse des équilibres du problème séculaire et des implications de ces derniers sur la structure de l'espace de phase et d'autre part, le calcul des fréquences fondamentales de ce même problème permettant la reproduction de l'évolution temporelle du système planétaire, grâce à une méthode totalement analytique basée sur les transformées de Lie. Nous disposons ainsi d'un modèle analytique fiable et peu coûteux pouvant prendre en compte un large éventail de paramètres et qui peut être appliqué avec précision aux systèmes extrasolaires hors résonance en moyen mouvement. / The discovery of extrasolar planets with large eccentricities renews interest in the study of the dynamics of planetary systems. This work is concerned with the analytical study of the secular three-body problem by means of a generalization of the Laplace-Lagrange theory based on a high-order expansion of the disturbing potential in the eccentricities and the inclinations. We show that this approach is able to describe the secular dynamics of a two-planets system not close to a mean motion resonance. The proximity of a system to any mean motion resonance is also analytically investigated. For coplanar and tridimensional systems, we pursue a twofold objective: on the one hand, the study of the equilibria of the secular problem and their implications on the structure of the phase space and on the other hand, the computation of both the fundamental frequencies of the problem and the long-term time evolution of the planetary system with a totally analytical method based on Lie transforms. This reliable time-saving analytical model can take into account a large spectrum of parameters and can be applied successfully to non-resonant extrasolar systems.
65

Recherche de planètes habitables autour de naines M / Search for Earth-like planets in the habitable zone of M-dwarfs

Astudillo-Defru, Nicola 27 March 2015 (has links)
Depuis la première détection d'une planète extrasolaire autour d'une étoile de type solaire par Mayor et Queloz (1995), plus de 1500 planètes ont été découverts. Actuellement il existe un énorme intérêt à découvrir et caractériser des planètes semblables à la Terre, en particulier celles situées dans la zone habitable de leur étoile hôte (définie comme la distance à l'étoile hôte où la température de la planète permet l'existence d'eau liquide à la surface). La détection de planètes de type terrestre, et la recherche de biomarqueurs dans leurs atmosphères sont parmi les principaux objectifs de l'astronomie du vingt et unième siècle. La méthode des vitesses radiales (VR), consistant à mesurer le mouvement réflexe de l'étoile induit par des planètes en orbite, est une remarquable technique pour atteindre cet objectif.Pour atteindre les précisions nécessaire à la detection de telles planètes il est absolument nécessaire de concevoir des spectrographes extrêmement stables, d'avoir une très bonne compréhension de l'activité stellaire (qui peut mimer l'effet d'une planète), d'effectuer un traitement soigneux de l'atmosphère terrestre (laquelle inévitablement laisse des empreintes dans les spectres acquis depuis le sol), et de disposer d'une puissante technique pour extraire, à partir des spectres, autant d'information Doppler que possible. La recherche de planètes orbitant autour des étoiles de très faible masse, plutôt qu'autour des étoiles de type solaire, permet d'aborder dès maintenant la détection de planètes de faible masse dans la zone habitable. En effet, en gardant tout les autres paramètres égaux, le mouvement réflexe (et donc l'amplitude de la variation VR) sera plus grande si l'étoile centrale est de très faible masse. De plus les naines M ont une plus faible luminosité que les étoiles de type solaire, il en resulte des périodes orbitales courtes des planètes dans la zone habitable (~50 jours pour les naines M contre ~360 jours pour des étoiles de type solaire), entraînant à nouveau en une plus grande amplitude des VR. Une précision de ~1 m/s en VR permet la détection d'une planète dans la zone habitable d'une naine M, alors que ~0.1 m/s sont nécessaire dans le cas d'une étoile de type solaire.Cette thèse vise à optimiser l'extraction de VR des spectres des naines M à haute résolution acquis avec le spectrographe HARPS (avec une possibilité d'applications futures sur d'autres instruments comme SOPHIE, HARPS-N et le prochain spectrographe infrarouge SPIRou - prochainement mis en service au CFHT). Les effets de l'activité stellaire des naines M seront également analysées, dans le contexte de la technique des VR. Divers traceurs d'activité stellaire sont utilisés pour rejeter des fausses détections ou pour étudier les relations entre l'activité magnétique et la rotation. Dans cette thèse (Chap. 3) je calibre pour la première fois le flux dans les raies H et K du Calcium en fonction de la luminosité bolométrique et je détermine la relation entre cet estimateur R'HK et la période de rotation des naines M. Dans le chapitre 4 je décris l'implémentation d'une méthode d'extraction de VR par une minimisation du Chi-deux entre un template spectral et les spectres observés. Je démontre que cette méthode est plus précise que celle classiquement utilisée. Les raies telluriques qui affectent les mesures VR sont prises en compte dans les procédures d'analyse. Ces méthodes sont testées sur des systèmes avec des candidats planétaires, je discuterais l'analyse de certains de ces systèmes. / Since the first detection of an extrasolar planet orbiting a Sun-like star by Mayor and Queloz (1995), more than 1500 have been discovered. Enormous interest is currently focused on finding and characterising Earth-like planets, in particular those located in the habitable zone of their host star (defined as the distance from the host star where the planet temperature allows liquid water to flow on its surface). Both the detection of Earth-like planets, and the search for biomarkers in their atmospheres are among the main objectives of the twenty-first century's astronomy. The method known as radial velocities (RV), that consists in the measure of the star's reflex motion induced by orbiting planets, is a promising technique to achieve that quest.The main difficulties with the RV technique are the needs of an extremely stable spectrograph, a correct understanding of stellar activity (which can mimic the effect of a planet), a careful treatment of our Earth's atmosphere (which inevitable imprints spectra taken from the ground), and the need to dispose of a powerful algorithm to extract as much Doppler information as possible from the recorded spectra. Search for planets orbiting very low-mass stars (M dwarfs) can more easily reach the goal of detecting low-mass planets in the habitable zone of their parent star, compared to solar-type stars. Indeed, everything else being equal, a lower mass of the host star implies a larger reflex motion, and thus a larger RV amplitude. Moreover, the lower luminosity of M dwarfs compared to Sun-like stars, implies shorter orbital periods from planets in the habitable zone (~50 days against ~360 days, for M dwarfs compared to solar-type stars, respectively), resulting again in a larger RV amplitude. A RV precision of ~1 m/s allows a planet detection in the habitable zone of an M dwarf, whereas ~0.1 m/s is required in the case of a solar-type stars.This thesis aims to optimise the RV extraction from HARPS high-resolution spectra (and to open similar analysis on other instruments like SOPHIE, HARPS-N and the upcoming infrared spectrograph SPIRou -- to be commissioned to the 3.6-m CFH-Telescope). The effects of stellar activity will also be analysed, and contextualised in the RV technique. Stellar activity tracers are used to reject false detections or to study the relationships between the stellar magnetic activity and rotation. In this thesis (Chap.ref{chap:mag_activity}) I calibrate for the first time the ratio between the Ca textrm{small II} Htextrm{small &}K chromospheric lines and the bolometric luminosity for M dwarfs. I determine a relationship between the R^prime_{HK}-index and the rotation period of M dwarfs. In chapter~ref{chap:template_matching} I describe my algorithm to extract RVs through a chi^2-minimisation between a stellar template and the observed spectra. I demonstrate the improved accuracy of this method. Telluric spectral lines also affect the measurements of RV and are taken into account in the analysis procedures. I tested these methods on systems with planetary candidates, and for some systems, I took in charge the Keplerian analysis.
66

Assessing the Impact of H2O and CH4 Opacity Data in Exoplanetary Atmospheres: Laboratory Measurements and Radiative Transfer Modeling Approaches

January 2019 (has links)
abstract: One strategic objective of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is to find life on distant worlds. Current and future missions either space telescopes or Earth-based observatories are frequently used to collect information through the detection of photons from exoplanet atmospheres. The primary challenge is to fully understand the nature of these exo-atmospheres. To this end, atmospheric modeling and sophisticated data analysis techniques are playing a key role in understanding the emission and transmission spectra of exoplanet atmospheres. Of critical importance to the interpretation of such data are the opacities (or absorption cross-sections) of key molecules and atoms. During my Doctor of Philosophy years, the central focus of my projects was assessing and leveraging these opacity data. I executed this task with three separate projects: 1) laboratory spectroscopic measurement of the infrared spectra of CH4 in H2 perturbing gas in order to extract pressure-broadening and pressure-shifts that are required to accurately model the chemical composition of exoplanet atmospheres; 2) computing the H2O opacity data using ab initio line list for pressure and temperature ranges of 10^-6–300 bar and 400–1500 K, and then utilizing these H2O data in radiative transfer models to generate transmission and emission exoplanetary spectra; and 3) assessing the impact of line positions in different H2O opacities on the interpretation of ground-based observational exoplanetary data through the cross-correlation technique. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemistry 2019
67

The effects of tidal interactions on the properties and evolution of hot-Jupiter planetary systems

Brown, David John Alexander January 2013 (has links)
Thanks to a range of discovery methods that are sensitive to different regions of parameter space, we now know of over 900 planets in over 700 planetary systems. This large population has allowed exoplanetary scientists to move away from a focus on simple discovery, and towards efforts to study the bigger pictures of planetary system formation and evolution. The interactions between planets and their host stars have proven to be varied in both mechanisms and scope. In particular, tidal interactions seem to affect both the physical and dynamical properties of planetary systems, but characterising the broader implications of this has proven challenging. In this thesis I present work that investigates different aspects of tidal interactions, in order to uncover the scope of their influence of planetary system evolution. I compare two different age calculation methods using a large sample of exoplanet and brown dwarf host stars, and find a tendency for stellar model fitting to supply older age estimates than gyrochronology, the evaluation of a star's age through its rotation (Barnes 2007). Investigating possible sources of this discrepancy suggests that angular momentum exchange through the action of tidal forces might be the cause. I then select two systems from my sample, and investigate the effect of tidal interactions on their planetary orbits and stellar spin using a forward integration scheme. By fitting the resulting evolutionary tracks to the observed eccentricity, semi-major axis and stellar rotation rate, and to the stellar age derived from isochronal fitting, I am able to place constraints on tidal dissipation in these systems. I find that the majority of evolutionary histories consistent with my results imply that the stars have been spun up through tidal interactions as the planets spiral towards their Roche limits. I also consider the influence of tidal interactions on the alignment between planetary orbits and stellar spin, presenting new measurements of the projected spin-orbit alignment angle, λ, for six hot Jupiters. I consider my results in the context of the full ensemble of measurements, and find that they support a previously identified trend in alignment angle with tidal timescale, implying that tidal realignment might be responsible for patterns observed in the λ distribution.
68

Searching for transiting extra-solar planets at optical and radio wavelengths

Smith, Alexis Michael Sheridan January 2009 (has links)
This thesis is concerned with various aspects of the detection and characterisation of transiting extra-solar planets. The noise properties of photometric data from SuperWASP, a wide-field survey instrument designed to detect exoplanets, are investigated. There has been a large shortfall in the number of planets such transit surveys have detected, compared to previous predictions of the planet catch. It has been suggested that correlated, or red, noise in the photometry is responsible for this; here it is confirmed that red noise is present in the SuperWASP photometry, and its effects on planet discovery are quantified. Examples are given of follow-up photometry of candidate transiting planets, confirming that modestly-sized telescopes can rule out some candidates photometrically. A Markov-chain Monte Carlo code is developed to fit transit lightcurves and determine the depth of such lightcurves in different passbands. Tests of this code with transit data of WASP-3 b are reported. The results of a search for additional transiting planets in known transiting planetary systems are presented. SuperWASP photometry of 24 such systems is searched for additional transits. No further planets are discovered, but a strong periodic signal is detected in the photometry of WASP-10. This is ascribed to stellar rotational variation, the period of which is determined to be 11.91 ± 0.05 days. Monte Carlo modelling is performed to quantify the ability of SuperWASP to detect additional transiting planets; it is determined that there is a good (> 50 per cent) chance of detecting additional, Saturn-sized planets in P ~ 10 day orbits. Finally, the first-ever attempt to detect the secondary eclipse of a transiting extra-solar planet at radio wavelengths is made. Although no eclipse is conclusively detected, upper limits to the flux density from HD 189733 b are established, and compared to theoretical predictions of the flux due to electron-cyclotron maser emission.
69

Transiting exoplanets : characterisation in the presence of stellar activity

Alapini Odunlade, Aude Ekundayo Pauline January 2010 (has links)
The combined observations of a planet’s transits and the radial velocity variations of its host star allow the determination of the planet’s orbital parameters, and most inter- estingly of its radius and mass, and hence its mean density. Observed densities provide important constraints to planet structure and evolution models. The uncertainties on the parameters of large exoplanets mainly arise from those on stellar masses and radii. For small exoplanets, the treatment of stellar variability limits the accuracy on the de- rived parameters. The goal of this PhD thesis was to reduce these sources of uncertainty by developing new techniques for stellar variability filtering and for the determination of stellar temperatures, and by robustly fitting the transits taking into account external constraints on the planet’s host star. To this end, I developed the Iterative Reconstruction Filter (IRF), a new post-detection stellar variability filter. By exploiting the prior knowledge of the planet’s orbital period, it simultaneously estimates the transit signal and the stellar variability signal, using a com- bination of moving average and median filters. The IRF was tested on simulated CoRoT light curves, where it significantly improved the estimate of the transit signal, particu- lary in the case of light curves with strong stellar variability. It was then applied to the light curves of the first seven planets discovered by CoRoT, a space mission designed to search for planetary transits, to obtain refined estimates of their parameters. As the IRF preserves all signal at the planet’s orbital period, t can also be used to search for secondary eclipses and orbital phase variations for the most promising cases. This en- abled the detection of the secondary eclipses of CoRoT-1b and CoRoT-2b in the white (300–1000 nm) CoRoT bandpass, as well as a marginal detection of CoRoT-1b’s orbital phase variations. The wide optical bandpass of CoRoT limits the distinction between thermal emission and reflected light contributions to the secondary eclipse. I developed a method to derive precise stellar relative temperatures using equiv- alent width ratios and applied it to the host stars of the first eight CoRoT planets. For stars with temperature within the calibrated range, the derived temperatures are con- sistent with the literature, but have smaller formal uncertainties. I then used a Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique to explore the correlations between planet parameters derived from transits, and the impact of external constraints (e.g. the spectroscopically derived stellar temperature, which is linked to the stellar density). Globally, this PhD thesis highlights, and in part addresses, the complexity of perform- ing detailed characterisation of transit light curves. Many low amplitude effects must be taken into account: residual stellar activity and systematics, stellar limb darkening, and the interplay of all available constraints on transit fitting. Several promising areas for further improvements and applications were identified. Current and future high precision photometry missions will discover increasing numbers of small planets around relatively active stars, and the IRF is expected to be useful in characterising them.
70

Lightning on exoplanets and brown dwarfs

Hodosán, Gabriella January 2017 (has links)
Lightning is an important electrical phenomenon, known to exist in several Solar System planets. Amongst others, it carries information on convection and cloud formation, and may be important for pre-biotic chemistry. Exoplanets and brown dwarfs have been shown to host environments appropriate for the initiation of lightning discharges. In this PhD project, I aim to determine if lightning on exoplanets and brown dwarfs can be more energetic than it is known from Solar System planets, what are the most promising signatures to look for, and if these "exo-lightning" signatures can be detected from Earth. This thesis focuses on three major topics. First I discuss a lightning climatology study of Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus. I apply the obtained lightning statistics to extrasolar planets in order to give a first estimate on lightning occurrence on exoplanets and brown dwarfs. Next, I introduce a short study of potential lightning activity on the exoplanet HAT-P-11b, based on previous radio observations. Related to this, I discuss a first estimate of observability of lightning from close brown dwarfs, with the optical Danish Telescope. The final part of my project focuses on a lightning radio model, which is applied to study the energy and radio power released from lightning discharges in hot giant gas planetary and brown dwarf atmospheres. The released energy determines the observability of signatures, and the effect lightning has on the local atmosphere of the object. This work combines knowledge obtained from planetary and earth sciences and uses that to learn more about extrasolar systems. My main results show that lightning on exoplanets may be more energetic than in the Solar System, supporting the possibility of future observations and detection of lightning activity on an extrasolar body. My work provides the base for future radio, optical, and infrared search for "exo-lightning".

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