Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Characterizing Kepler Objects Of Interest Using The Algorithm Exonest, Bertrand Carado

Physics

Recent observations across the galaxy have led to the conclusion that there exist many different extrasolar systems. Using photometric effects, the amount of data that has been produced on exoplanets has significantly increased and will continue to rise. Finding new methods of data analysis to broaden the spectrum of research has therefore become a necessity. Exonest is an algorithm currently in development that uses Bayesian methods, and notably nested sampling, to infer characteristics about an exoplanet from its observed light curve.

In this paper, Exonest was tested by being used to study three extra-solar systems: each containing a single confirmed …

The Utilization Of Exonest In Characterizing Kepler Objects, Nicole Wallack

Physics

With the first detection of an exoplanet, came the study of methods to detect and characterize additional planets. Multiple methods for finding exoplanets were developed, including transit methods. When a star’s flux is being observed for an extended period of time and a slight dip in the relative flux is seen periodically, this may be evidence of a planet passing in front of the star and blocking out a portion of the received flux. It is this method that is employed by the Kepler spacecraft. Kepler observes approximately 100,000 stars looking for periodic decreases in stellar fluxes. From the produced …