Sensitivities of Planet Detection Techniques
The astrometric and radial velocity techniques of extra-solar planet detection attempt to detect the periodic reflex motion of the parent star by extracting this periodic signal from a time-sampled set of observations. The extraction is generally accomplished using periodogram analysis or the functionally equivalent technique of Least Squares fitting of sinusoids. In collaboration with Shri Kulkarni, I determined analytic expressions for the sensitivity of Least Squares technique applied to radial velocity, astrometry, or combined datasets. See Eisner & Kulkarni 2001a, 2001b, and 2002 for further details.


Josh Eisner; August 5, 2005