Open AccessThe GJ 876 Planetary System: A Progress Report
Author(s) -
Gregory Laughlin,
R. Paul Butler,
Debra A. Fischer,
Geoffrey W. Marcy,
Steven S. Vogt,
Aaron S. Wolf
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the astrophysical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.376
H-Index - 489
eISSN - 1538-4357
pISSN - 0004-637X
DOI - 10.1086/424686
Subject(s) - physics , radial velocity , planetary system , planet , astrophysics , exoplanet , mean motion , outer planets , astronomy , giant planet , monte carlo method , eccentricity (behavior) , resonance (particle physics) , solar system , celestial mechanics , stars , statistics , mathematics , particle physics , political science , law
We present an updated analysis of the GJ 876 planetary system based on anaugmented data set that incorporates 65 new high-precision radial velocitiesobtained with the Keck telescope from 2001 to 2004. These new radial velocitiespermit a more accurate characterization of the planet-planet interactionsexhibited by the system. Self-consistent three-body orbital fits (whichincorporate both the estimated instrumental uncertainties and 6 m/s Gaussianstellar jitter) continue to show that GJ 876 b and GJ 876 c are participatingin a stable and symmetric 2:1 resonance condition in which the lowest order,eccentricity type mean-motion resonance variables are all librating. Theplanets are also locked in a secular resonance which causes them to librateabout apsidal alignment. The small libration widths of all three resonanceslikely point to a dissipative history of differential migration for the twoplanets in the system. (for full abstract see paper).Comment: 26 pages, 8 figures, Accepted at Astrophysical Journa
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