The PHASES Differential Astrometry Data Archive. V. Candidate Substellar Companions to Binary Systems

TL;DR

This study used high-precision astrometry to search for substellar companions around binary stars, identifying six candidate systems with potential Jovian planets affecting stellar motions, with two high-confidence detections.

Contribution

First application of the PHASES data archive to identify candidate substellar companions in binary systems, demonstrating the potential of astrometric methods for exoplanet detection.

Findings

Six binary systems show evidence of substellar companions.

Two detections are considered high confidence.

Four systems require further observation for confirmation.

Abstract

The Palomar High-precision Astrometric Search for Exoplanet Systems monitored 51 subarcsecond binary systems to evaluate whether tertiary companions as small as Jovian planets orbited either the primary or secondary stars, perturbing their otherwise smooth Keplerian motions. Six binaries are presented that show evidence of substellar companions orbiting either the primary or secondary star. Of these six systems, the likelihoods of two of the detected perturbations to represent real objects are considered to be "high confidence", while the remaining four systems are less certain and will require continued observations for confirmation.