Probing the Impact of Stellar Duplicity on Planet Occurrence

TL;DR

This study investigates how close stellar companions influence planet formation, using adaptive optics observations of 130 stars, and finds that giant planets are less common in close binary systems, supporting theoretical predictions.

Contribution

It provides observational constraints on the impact of stellar duplicity on planet occurrence, including new companion detections and preliminary statistical analysis.

Findings

Approximately 20 true companions identified, including 4 new ones.

Giant planets are less frequent in binaries closer than ~100 AU.

Results support the negative impact of close stellar companions on planet formation.

Abstract

The presence of a stellar companion closer than ~100 AU is likely to affect planet formation and evolution. Yet, the precise effects and their actual impact on planet occurrence are still debated. To bring observational constraints, we have conducted with VLT/NACO a systematic adaptive optics survey for close stellar companions to 130 solar-type stars with and without planets. In this paper we present observational and preliminary statistical results from this survey. Observational results reveal about 20 true companions, of which 4 are new companions to planet-host stars. As to preliminary statistical results, they suggest that circumstellar giant planets are less frequent in binaries closer than ~100 AU than around single stars, in possible agreement with the theoretical studies that predict a negative impact of stellar duplicity on giant planet formation in binaries closer than ~100 AU. These statistical results will need confirmation, however, as they are severely limited by small sample sizes.