Article: Doppler spectroscopy as a path to the detection of Earth-like planets

Doppler spectroscopy was the first technique used to reveal the existence of extrasolar planetary systems hosted by solar-type stars. Radial-velocity surveys led to the detection of a rich population of super-Earths and Neptune-type planets. The numerous detected systems revealed a remarkable diversity. Combining Doppler measurements with photometric observations of planets transiting their host stars further provides access to the planet bulk density, a first step towards comparative exoplanetology. The development of new high-precision spectrographs and space-based facilities will ultimately lead us to characterize rocky planets in the habitable zone of our close stellar neighbours.

Citing Articles

Super-Earths, M Dwarfs, and Photosynthetic Organisms: Habitability in the Lab.

Claudi R, Alei E, Battistuzzi M, Cocola L, Erculiani M, Pozzer A Life (Basel). 2020; 11(1).

PMID: 33374408 PMC: 7823553. DOI: 10.3390/life11010010.

Tidal Heating of Earth-like Exoplanets around M Stars: Thermal, Magnetic, and Orbital Evolutions.

Driscoll P, BARNES R Astrobiology. 2015; 15(9):739-60.

PMID: 26393398 PMC: 4582693. DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1325.

References

1.

Israelian G, Santos N, Mayor M, Rebolo R . Evidence for planet engulfment by the star HD82943. Nature. 2001; 411(6834):163-6. DOI: 10.1038/35075512. View

2.

Howard A, Marcy G, Johnson J, Fischer D, Wright J, Isaacson H . The occurrence and mass distribution of close-in super-Earths, Neptunes, and Jupiters. Science. 2010; 330(6004):653-5. DOI: 10.1126/science.1194854. View

3.

Rasio , Ford . Dynamical Instabilities and the Formation of Extrasolar Planetary Systems. Science. 1996; 274(5289):954-6. DOI: 10.1126/science.274.5289.954. View

4.

Boss A . Proximity of jupiter-like planets to low-mass stars. Science. 1995; 267(5196):360-2. DOI: 10.1126/science.267.5196.360. View

5.

Henry , Marcy , Butler , VOGT . A Transiting "51 Peg-like" Planet. Astrophys J. 1999; 529(1):L41-L44. DOI: 10.1086/312458. View

6.

Lovis C, Mayor M, Pepe F, Alibert Y, Benz W, Bouchy F . An extrasolar planetary system with three Neptune-mass planets. Nature. 2006; 441(7091):305-9. DOI: 10.1038/nature04828. View

7.

Buchhave L, Latham D, Johansen A, Bizzarro M, Torres G, Rowe J . An abundance of small exoplanets around stars with a wide range of metallicities. Nature. 2012; 486(7403):375-7. DOI: 10.1038/nature11121. View

8.

Dumusque X, Pepe F, Lovis C, Segransan D, Sahlmann J, Benz W . An Earth-mass planet orbiting α Centauri B. Nature. 2012; 491(7423):207-11. DOI: 10.1038/nature11572. View

9.

Charbonneau , Brown , Latham , Mayor . Detection of Planetary Transits Across a Sun-like Star. Astrophys J. 1999; 529(1):L45-L48. DOI: 10.1086/312457. View

10.

Mazeh , NAEF , TORRES , Latham , Mayor , Beuzit . The Spectroscopic Orbit of the Planetary Companion Transiting HD 209458. Astrophys J. 2000; 532(1):L55-L58. DOI: 10.1086/312558. View

11.

Charbonneau D, Berta Z, Irwin J, Burke C, Nutzman P, Buchhave L . A super-Earth transiting a nearby low-mass star. Nature. 2009; 462(7275):891-4. DOI: 10.1038/nature08679. View

12.

Israelian G, Delgado Mena E, Santos N, Sousa S, Mayor M, Udry S . Enhanced lithium depletion in Sun-like stars with orbiting planets. Nature. 2009; 462(7270):189-91. DOI: 10.1038/nature08483. View

Doppler Spectroscopy As a Path to the Detection of Earth-like Planets