Fourier Transform Spectrum of the Iodine Cell Used for Exoplanet Searches at the Lick Observatory
EMSL Project ID
34508
Abstract
We are requesting time to obtain and optical Fourier Transform Spectrometer scan of the iodine cell used at the Lick Observatory for exoplanet searches. This scan will provide an atlas of iodine lines that are used to model stellar velocities with a precision of just one meter per second. The current atlas that we are using has a spectral resolution of about 300,000 and was obtained for a completely different iodine cell. The iodine column density is certain to be different from the actual cell that is employed for the Lick Observatory Planet Search. The current velocity precision at Lick Observatory is about 3 – 5 m s-1, but we observe systematic errors that are nearly double the single measurement precision. We expect that with a high-resolution scan of the actual cell that has been used since 1987 at Lick, we will be able to re-analyze our old data, improve our precision for past years. The Lick Observatory Planet Search was the first program in the United States to detect planets orbiting nearby stars and this new scan, coupled with some instrument upgrades that are underway, should help to discover many more exoplanets. The Bruker FTS spectrometer at EMSL is one of the few instruments in the United States that is capable of achieving the spectral resolution needed for the highest possible Doppler precision. In order to carry out the FTS scan, we need to coordinate with the Lick Observatory to remove the cell from the instrument. The Director of the Observatory has approved removal of the cell for scanning during the first week of June. So, we hope it will be possible to coordinate time on the EMSL FTS during this week.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2009-06-01
End Date
2010-06-06
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator