Coordination:
Principal Investigator: Sérgio Sousa
Funding:
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
The discovery of over 5,700 exoplanets orbiting more than 4,500 stars has revolutionized our understanding of planetary systems. Utilizing cutting-edge photometric transit techniques and follow-up radial-velocity measurements, missions such as CHEOPS, TESS, Kepler, and others have unveiled a vast diversity of exoplanets, providing groundbreaking insights into their formation, evolution, and composition. These studies have revealed significant correlations between the properties of host stars and their planets, highlighting the critical need for precise stellar parameters to accurately characterize planetary systems.
The SWEET-Cat database, a comprehensive catalog of stellar parameters for stars with planets, is central to this research. By refining stellar properties and incorporating detailed and homogeneous stellar parameters, SWEET-Cat enhances our understanding of star-planet interactions and supports the development of theoretical models of planetary interiors. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, such as understanding the impact of chemical abundances on planet formation and the role of element ratios in determining planet frequency. Our research aims to decode new star-planet correlations using an expanded and homogenized dataset from SWEET-Cat. We will employ advanced spectroscopic analysis and stellar modeling techniques to derive accurate stellar parameters, including detailed chemical abundances, precise stellar masses, radii, and ages. This project will also contribute to the CHEOPS mission and various radial-velocity surveys, improving the precision of planetary measurements and discovering new exoplanets.
Looking ahead, our work will lay the groundwork for future missions such as PLATO, Ariel, and ANDES@ELT. By providing a comprehensive and precise catalog of stellar and planetary parameters, we will enable these missions to achieve their scientific goals more effectively. Our involvement in the development of new instruments and data analysis techniques will further enhance the capabilities of upcoming missions, ensuring that they can explore exoplanetary systems with unprecedented detail and accuracy. The expected outcomes include significant scientific advancements in exoplanetary science, societal benefits through open science initiatives, and educational impacts by training the next generation of astrophysicists. Our findings will be disseminated through public engagement activities, fostering a scientifically literate society and inspiring future scientists.
