10 February 2011

Speaker: John Johnson (Caltech)

Title:Giant Exoplanets in the Stellar Mass-Metallicity Plane

Abstract: Correlations between stellar properties and the occurrence rate of exoplanets can be used to inform the target selection of future planet-search efforts and provide valuable clues about the planet-formation process. I will present the results of our analysis of planet occurrence as a function of stellar mass and metallicity among the targets in the California Planet Survey. Included in our sample are M dwarfs with masses as low as 0.25 Msun, \u201cSun-like\u201d GK stars, and evolved intermediate-mass (up to 2 Msun) subgiants. We find that both parameters have a strong influence on the occurrence rate of giant planets orbiting within 3 AU of their host stars. I will also present evidence that stars with masses larger than 1.5 solar have a mysterious paucity of planets inward of 1 AU, and that planets around intermediate-mass stars have much lower eccentricities and larger masses compared to the properties of planets around Sun-like stars.

Video of the Presentation (Talks can be viewed with RealPlayer. Free download is available from www.real.com )