Investigating the Nature of Super-Earths via High-Precision Near-Infrared 3-color Simultaneous Transit Photometry

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25247026
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Astronomy
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2016); National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (2013-2015)
• Principal Investigator: Narita Norio 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 助教 (60610532)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 泉浦 秀行 国立天文台, 岡山天体物理観測所, 准教授 (00211730) ; 生駒 大洋 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 准教授 (80397025)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): FUKUI Akihiko 国立天文台, 岡山天体物理観測所, 特任専門員 (60632049) ; SATO Bun' ei 東京工業大学, 理学院, 准教授 (40397823) ; TAMURA Motohide 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 教授 (00260018) ; YANAGISAWA Kenshi 国立天文台, 岡山天体物理観測所, 助教 (90311183) ; NAGAYAMA Takahiro 鹿児島大学, 理学部, 准教授 (00533275) ; ENYA Keigo 宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 准教授 (40392815) ; SEKINE Yasuhito 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 准教授 (60431897) ; GENDA Hidenori 東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, 准教授 (90456260) ; KURITA Mikio 京都大学, 理学研究科, 准教授 (20419427)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-05-31 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 太陽系外惑星 / トランジット / スーパーアース / 観測装置開発 / 多色撮像カメラ / 透過光分光 / 系外惑星大気

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to investigate the nature of super-Earths, which are emerging population of extrasolar planets. To do so, we have worked on development of a new astronomical instrument named MuSCAT (Multi-color Simultaneous Camera for studying Atmospheres of Transiting exoplanets), which is a 3-color simultaneous camera, for the 188cm telescope at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory. Using the instrument and other facilities, we conducted observations and theoretical modeling to reveal properties of super-Earths.
Consequently, we succeeded in developing MuSCAT faster than we expected, and discovered 2 new super-Earths based on our observations using MuSCAT. We also succeeded in detecting a planetary transit of the habitable super-Earth K2-3d using MuSCAT for the first time from the ground, and improved the knowledge about properties of this planet.
Based on the above and other publication results, we have made better-than-expected achievements from this study.

Free Research Field

太陽系外惑星