Improving Exoplanet Detection Power: Multivariate Gaussian Process Models for Stellar Activity

Understand

The radial velocity method is one of the most successful techniques for detecting exoplanets.

• It works by detecting the velocity of a host star induced by the gravitational effect of an orbiting planet, specifically the velocity along our line of sight, which is called the radial velocity of the star.
• Low-mass planets typically cause their host star to move with radial velocities of 1 m/s or less.
• By analyzing a time series of stellar spectra from a host star, modern astronomical instruments can in theory detect such planets.