Speaker: Lalitha Sairam (Birmingham)

Date: Wednesday 24 April 2024

Time: 15:00

Location: Berry lecture theatre (3.21)

The Stellar Noise Problem: Predicting Activity for Enhanced Exoplanet Research

The field of exoplanet research has flourished in recent decades, revealing a multitude of diverse planetary systems beyond our own. However, the detection and characterisation of exoplanets remain significantly hampered by the dynamic and often disruptive magnetic activity of their host stars. Stellar spots and plages generate substantial noise that can mimic the signal of an exoplanet, leading to spurious detections and compromising the accuracy of atmospheric characterisation efforts. While existing methods and models attempt to mitigate this "stellar noise," its influence continues to pose a significant challenge. This presentation will provide an overview of the intricate challenges presented by stellar activity and introduce STACCATO (STellar ACtvity foreCAst for Optimal observations of exoplanets), a novel forecasting model designed to predict optimal observation windows for both exoplanet detection and atmospheric characterisation. The synergistic potential of STACCATO with upcoming missions like HARPS3, ARIEL, and PLATO will be explored, highlighting how this collaborative approach can significantly advance our understanding of both exoplanets and their stellar hosts.