Transiting Planets with LSST IV: Detecting Planets around White Dwarfs

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of LSST data and a specific algorithm to detect transiting planets around white dwarfs, estimating over 500 potential detections despite observational challenges.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of detecting transiting planets around white dwarfs using LSST data with a specialized detection algorithm, expanding previous methods for main sequence stars.

Findings

Approximately 20% detection rate for close-in transiting planets around white dwarfs

Over 500 planets could be detected at an occurrence rate of 0.25 Earth-sized planets per white dwarf

Low LSST cadence in the Galactic Plane significantly reduces detection yield

Abstract

Previous work has demonstrated that the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) has the capability to detect transiting planets around main sequence stars in relatively short ($<$ 20 days) periods and using standard algorithms for transit detection and period recoverability. In this paper, we demonstrate how an algorithm proposed in Tingley (2011) can be used for detecting transiting planets around white dwarfs with LSST. This application offsets the very short transit duration with the large change in magnitude caused by a transit of a white dwarf so that only a few points in transit are needed to detect periodicity and constrain the period. Our initial simulations find that approximately 1 in 5 close-in transiting planets would be detectable around white dwarf hosts; at an occurrence rate of 0.25 earth-sized planets per white dwarf, this is over 500 planets that can be detected. We also note that the current low cadence of LSST in the Galactic Plane has a significant impact on the expected yield.