NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

1. PSARC (Sigurdsson report)

   Project Investigators: Steinn Sigurdsson

   Other Project Members

   Avi Mandell (Doctoral Student)

   Kenneth Moody (Doctoral Student)

   Summary

   Theoretical modeling of planetary dynamics, in particular the later stages of planet formation and the role of giant planet migration in the formation of terrestrial planets. Also, direct detection of planets around burned out stars using existing space based telescopes, and planets around pulsars.

   Astrobiology Roadmap Objectives:

   • Objective 1.1: Models of formation and evolution of habitable planets
   • Objective 1.2: Indirect and direct astronomical observations of extrasolar habitable planets

   Project Progress

   Theoretical model of post-migration planet formation worked on; followup research on pulsar planets,; new line of research on eccentricity excitation of short orbital period giant planets. Four papers published.
   Analysis of Spitzer Space Telescope data completed, two papers published.
   Hubble Space Telescope time to followup observation doing direct imaging search for giant planets around nearby white dwarfs obtained in current cycle (w. Debes at DTM), analysis in progress. Theoretical paper on ejected terrestrial planets published.
   Mandell completed PhD thesis and is starting a NPP postdoc at NAI GSFC center in August 2007.
   Review conference proceedings paper with Moody on planet around pulsars published.

   DDF funding for “Extreme Habitability” session associated with “Extreme Solar Systems” conference.

   Cross-Team Collaborations

   Debes at NAI Carnegie DTM – ongoing direct detection searches for planets around white dwarfs, using Hubble and Spitzer.
   Mandell at NAI GSFC – theoretical modeling of planet formation.
   Hansen at NAI UCLA – planets around white dwarfs.

Publications

Sigurdsson, S., Stairs, I.H., Moody, K., Arzoumanian, Z. & Thorsett, S.E.  (2008).  Planets Around Pulsars in Globular Clusters.  ASP Conf Ser..