Extrasolar planets transits detection and follow up.pdfVIP

Extrasolar planets transits: detection andfollow upJean SchneiderCNRS - Observatoire de Paris, 92195 Meudon, Franceschneider@obspm.frAbstract. The detection of transits has a rich potential of information aboutextrasolar planets. This contribution gives an overview and new perspectives onthe subject:- constraints on the internal structure from radius measurement- detection of rings and satellites of planets- determination of the albedo of planets in close orbit (`Pegasids)- spectroscopic investigation of transitsIn addition, the high precision photometry of transits has several interesting by-products such as stellar surface investigation or microlensing in binary systems.Ground-based and space-based projects dedicated to these searches are reviewedand some potential artefacts are discussed.1 The planet transits methodThe aim of the transit method, rst investigated by Rosenblatt [1] andBorucki and Summers [2], is to search for extrasolar planets by the lumi-nosity drop of a star produced by a planet transit. The relative drop
F=F ,given by the surface ratio R2P =R2, runs from 104 for an Earth-like planet to102 for a Jupiter. The low probability p = R=a of a transit (p = 0.5% ata = 1AU) governs the search strategies discussed in section 2.1.1 Expected scientic resultsAssuming that a transit has been detected, it can be exploited for severalscience purposes.1/ If the stellar spectrum allows for high precision radial velocity (RV)mesurements, giving the product MP  sin i, there is no ambiguity in theplanet mass determination since the inclination i of the orbit is exactly =2.2/ The most obvious, and unique, output is the radius of the planet.Indeed, the imaging gives only the product A  R2P where A is the planetalbedo . The value of the radius is infered from the value of
F=F , assuminga value for R; the latter can be estimated from the spectrum, the brightnessand the distance of the star. If the planet mass can be known from RV orastrometric measurements,