Direct Imaging of Extra-solar Planets - Homogeneous Comparison of Detected Planets and Candidates

TL;DR

This paper compiles and analyzes data on 25 directly imaged exoplanets and candidates, estimating their masses to confirm their planetary nature through a homogeneous approach using luminosity and evolutionary models.

Contribution

It provides a uniform comparison of directly imaged exoplanets and candidates, estimating their masses to confirm their planetary status.

Findings

All objects have estimated masses below 25 Jupiter masses.

Homogeneous luminosity measurements enable consistent mass estimation.

Supports classification of these objects as planets.

Abstract

Searching the literature, we found 25 stars with directly imaged planets and candidates. We gathered photometric and spectral information for all these objects to derive their luminosities in a homogeneous way, taking a bolometric correction into account. Using theoretical evolutionary models, one can then estimate the mass from luminosity, temperature, and age. According to our mass estimates, all of them can have a mass below 25 Jup masses, so that they are considered as planets.