对环绕M矮星的可居住行星进行地基凌日搜索的设计考虑
Design Considerations for a Ground-based Transit Search for Habitable Planets Orbiting M dwarfs
摘要：
通过瞄准附近的M矮星，使用普通设备的凌日搜索能够在其宿主恒星的宜居带中发现小至2个地球半径的行星。MEarth项目是一个未来的凌日搜索项目，旨在利用地面机器人望远镜网络以足够的精度和节奏监测北半球的M矮星，以探测此类行星。在这里，我们调查的MEarth项目的设计要求。我们评估的最佳带通，和必要的视野，望远镜孔径，和望远镜的时间分配上一颗恒星的基础上，是可能的，以及附近的M矮星的特点。通过这些考虑，1，976颗晚M矮星（R < 0.33 Rsun）成为凌日监测的有利目标。基于观测的节奏和总的望远镜时间分配量身定制，以恢复90%的过境信号从行星的宜居带轨道，我们发现，一个网络的10个30厘米的望远镜可以调查这些1,976 M矮星在不到3年。如果这次巡天的结果为零，那么在晚M矮星的宜居带中，大于2个地球半径的行星的出现率的上限（99%置信度）将为17%，而对于比宜居带更近的行星，则会有更强的限制。如果适居行星的真实出现率是10%，那么预期的产量将是2.6颗行星。
英文摘要：
By targeting nearby M dwarfs, a transit search using modest equipment is capable of discovering planets as small as 2 Earth radii in the habitable zones of their host stars. The MEarth Project, a future transit search, aims to employ a network of ground-based robotic telescopes to monitor M dwarfs in the northern hemisphere with sufficient precision and cadence to detect such planets. Here we investigate the design requirements for the MEarth Project. We evaluate the optimal bandpass, and the necessary field of view, telescope aperture, and telescope time allocation on a star-by-star basis, as is possible for the well-characterized nearby M dwarfs. Through these considerations, 1,976 late M dwarfs (R < 0.33 Rsun) emerge as favorable targets for transit monitoring. Based on an observational cadence and on total telescope time allocation tailored to recover 90% of transit signals from planets in habitable zone orbits, we find that a network of ten 30 cm telescopes could survey these 1,976 M dwarfs in less than 3 years. A null result from this survey would set an upper limit (at 99% confidence) of 17% for the rate of occurrence of planets larger than 2 Earth radii in the habitable zones of late M dwarfs, and even stronger constraints for planets lying closer than the habitable zone. If the true occurrence rate of habitable planets is 10%, the expected yield would be 2.6 planets.
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