Dynamical Investigation of extrasolar planetary Systems
Barbara Funk
01.10.2002 - 13.12.2006
Abstract
The main goal of my dissertation is to study the long term stability of planetary orbits, especially terrestrial like planets, in existing extrasolar planetary systems. I distinguish between two different types of systems: planetary systems around a single star with two or more exoplanets and double stars with one or more massive planets. Examples for both different classes are present in the more than 115 exosolar systems discovered up to now, 13 multiple planetary systems (e.g. HD 74156) and 15 planetary systems in binaries (e.g. Gamma Cephei). Interesting results dealing mainly with the stability of the systems themselves have already been published, but only few works have been devoted to the stability of additional planets. In this project fast numerical integration methods will be used to study thousands of orbits of fictitious planets in the zones where the distances to the host stars allow temperatures for stable liquid water conditions. For all these systems also the whole stability region will be investigated. Additionally different chaos indicators will serve as a tool to distinguish between regular and chaotic motion. The investigations will concentrate on orbits of additional planets in resonances (depending on the systems having one or two planets) but also orbits between resonances will be studied. Especially interesting are stable orbits in the habitable regions, where it is likely that atmospheres have been developed on terrestrial like planets which had been stable for billions of years. This concerns stable extrasolar systems with one or two massive (Jupiterlike planets) which may host additional planets on stable orbits.
Kurzzusammenfassung
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