Finding an Extrasolar Planet's Radius

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on calculating the radius of an extrasolar planet using the relationship between the bolometric flux of its star, the percentage decrease in brightness during a transit, and the distance to the star. The key equation presented is L_o / L = (A_s - A_p) / A_s, where L is the star's luminosity, L_o is the obscured luminosity, A_s is the stellar disc area, and A_p is the planetary disc area. The area of the star can be inferred from its luminosity using established luminosity-mass and mass-radius relations for main sequence stars.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of bolometric flux and luminosity in astrophysics
  • Knowledge of geometric area calculations, specifically for circles
  • Familiarity with main sequence star properties and their relationships
  • Basic grasp of astronomical transits and their observational implications
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the relationship between luminosity and mass for main sequence stars
  • Learn how to calculate the area of a circle and apply it to astronomical contexts
  • Explore methods for measuring stellar luminosity and its implications for exoplanet studies
  • Investigate the effects of planetary transits on stellar brightness and data interpretation
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Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students studying exoplanetary science who are interested in methods for determining the physical characteristics of extrasolar planets.

crocvox
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Hi, I've come across a question that I can't seem to find an equation for anywhere, it seems to exists since I have found mention of it in various papers, but none of them listed it, or at least not in a way I could understand.

The question is to find the radius of a fictional extrasolar planet, and the information we are given includes the bolometric flux of the star, what percentage it decreases by during an eclipse and the distance to the star. My question is: what equation, if any, can help me find the radius of the planet?

Note: This question is asking for the planet's radius, not the radius of it's orbit.
 
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When a planet transits in front of the stellar disc, it obscures a part of it, which we observe as a reduction in brightness. That reduction is directly proportional to the relative areas of the planetary and stellar discs.
So let's say you observe an (improbable) 50% reduction in brightness during transit. It'd mean the area of the obscuring disc is 50% of the star's.
Once you've got the area of a circle it's trivial to get the radius.

So,

[tex]\frac{L_o}{L}=\frac{A_s-A_p}{A_s}[/tex]

where
L is the star's luminosity
Lo is the star's luminosity when obscured
As is the stellar disc area
Ap is the planetary disc area


Of course, you need to know the As.
For main sequence stars it can be inferred from the luminosity, as these stars obey luminosity-mass and mass-radius relations as explained here: http://www2.astro.psu.edu/users/rbc/a534/lec18.pdf.
Otherwise a measurement is in order.
 
Thank you!
 

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