ExoVista: A Suite of Planetary System Models for Exoplanet Studies

TL;DR

ExoVista is a new tool that rapidly generates comprehensive planetary system models, enabling improved simulation and analysis of exoplanet detection methods across various observational techniques.

Contribution

It introduces a suite of physically detailed planetary system models that support all major exoplanet detection methods, filling a critical gap in existing modeling tools.

Findings

Supports simulation of multiple detection techniques

Generates thousands of quasi-self-consistent planetary systems

Records detailed physical parameters over time

Abstract

Studies of future space- and ground-based exoplanet surveys often rely on models of planetary systems to simulate instrument response, estimate scientific yields, perform trade analyses, and study efficient observation strategies. Until now, no planetary system models contained all of the basic physics necessary to enable study with all of the major exoplanet detection methods. Here we introduce a suite of such models generated by a new tool, exoVista. The exoVista tool quickly generates thousands of models of quasi-self-consistent planetary systems around known nearby stars at scattered light wavelengths and efficiently records the position, velocity, spectrum, and physical parameters of all bodies as functions of time. The modeled planetary systems can be used to simulate surveys using the direct imaging, transit, astrometric, and radial velocity techniques, as well as the overlap of these different methods.