Optimizing exoplanet transit searches around low-mass stars with inclination constraints

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to improve exoplanet transit search efficiency by preselecting stars likely oriented nearly equator-on using activity and rotational velocity data, potentially doubling detection success.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel statistical approach to identify highly inclined stars from catalogs, enhancing targeted exoplanet search strategies assuming spin-orbit alignment.

Findings

Preselection can increase transit detection efficiency by 2-3 times.

A catalog generation method for low-mass stars based on activity-rotation relations.

Identification of high-probability equator-on stars from real star catalogs.

Abstract

Aims. We investigate a method to increase the efficiency of a targeted exoplanet search with the transit technique by preselecting a subset of candidates from large catalogs of stars. Assuming spin-orbit alignment, this can be done by considering stars that have higher probability to be oriented nearly equator-on (inclination close to 90^{\circ}). Methods. We use activity-rotation velocity relations for low-mass stars with a convective envelope to study the dependence of the position in the activity-vsini diagram on the stellar axis inclination. We compose a catalog of G-, K-, M-type main sequence simulated stars using isochrones, an isotropic inclination distribution and empirical relations to obtain their rotation periods and activity indexes. Then the activity - vsini diagram is filled and statistics are applied to trace the areas containing the higher ratio of stars with inclinations above 80^{\circ}. A similar statistics is applied to stars from real catalogs with log(R'HK) and vsini data to find their probability of being equator-on. Results. We present the method used to generate the simulated star catalog and the subsequent statistics to find the highly inclined stars from real catalogs using the activity - vsini diagram. Several catalogs from the literature are analysed and a subsample of stars with the highest probability of being equator-on is presented. Conclusions. Assuming spin-orbit alignment, the efficiency of an exoplanet transit search in the resulting subsample of probably highly inclined stars is estimated to be two to three times higher than with a global search with no preselection.