Spin-Orbit Interactions for Exoplanetary Systems
In the Solar system, the planets follow orbits that are aligned with the Sun's equatorial plane to within a few degrees. But what about planets around other stars? Recently we have measured the spin-orbit angles of about 50 exoplanet-hosting stars, using a technique first theorized in the 19th century, as well as several new techniques based on data from the NASA Kepler spacecraft. Many exoplanetary systems have good alignment, as in the Solar system -- but there are also many surprises. I will discuss these results and their implications for theories of planet formation, and tidal spin-orbit interactions. I will also describe the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, a NASA mission that will improve upon Kepler by discovering exoplanets around stars that are brighter, closer to the Earth, and easier to study.
Joshua Winn is an associate professor of physics at MIT. His research goals are to explore the properties of planets around other stars, understand how planets form and evolve, and make progress on the age-old question of whether there are other planets capable of supporting life. His group uses optical and infrared telescopes to study exoplanetary systems, especially those in which the star and planet eclipse one another. He is a member of the NASA Kepler team and Deputy Science Director of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, a NASA mission scheduled for launch in 2017. Over the years, he and his group have also pursued topics in stellar astronomy, planetary dynamics, radio interferometry, gravitational lensing, and photonic bandgap materials.
