Scientific results from high-precision astrometry at the Palomar Testbed Interferometer

Matthew W. Muterspaugh; Benjamin F. Lane; Maciej Konacki; B. F. Burke; M. M. Colavita; S. R. Kulkarni; M. Shao

doi:10.1117/12.670688

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27 June 2006 Scientific results from high-precision astrometry at the Palomar Testbed Interferometer

Matthew W. Muterspaugh, Benjamin F. Lane, Maciej Konacki, B. F. Burke, M. M. Colavita, S. R. Kulkarni, M. Shao

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6268, Advances in Stellar Interferometry; 62680F (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670688
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

A new observing mode for the Palomar Testbed Interferometer was developed in 2002-2003 which enables differential astrometry at the level of 20 micro-arcseconds (μas) for binary systems with separations of several hundred milli-arcseconds (mas). This phase-referenced mode is the basis of the Palomar High-precision Astrometric Search for Exoplanet Systems (PHASES), a search for giant planets orbiting either the primary or secondary star in fifty binary systems. We present the first science results from the PHASES search. The properties of the stars comprising binary systems are determined to high precision. The mutual inclinations of several hierarchical triple star systems have been determined. We will present upper limits constraining the the existence of giant planets in a few of the target systems.

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Matthew W. Muterspaugh, Benjamin F. Lane, Maciej Konacki, B. F. Burke, M. M. Colavita, S. R. Kulkarni, and M. Shao "Scientific results from high-precision astrometry at the Palomar Testbed Interferometer", Proc. SPIE 6268, Advances in Stellar Interferometry, 62680F (27 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670688

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