The SIM planet search program consists of three main
scientific areas:
- Deep search. One of the most important planet
programs is a search for terrestrial planets around the
nearest ~250 stars. Because this program is the most
demanding in terms of astrometric accuracy, it is termed the
"Deep Search." It will use the full capability of SIM to
make 1 uas accurate measurements.
- Broad survey. A second planet search program
called the "broad survey" is aimed at lower accuracy ~ 3uas
but a much larger ~2000 star sample. The goal of this
program is to explore the prevalence of Neptune and larger
mass planets in all stellar types in our part of the Galaxy.
- Planets around young stars. The third component
of the SIM planet search program is the search for Jupiter
mass planets around young stars. To date more than 100
planets have been discovered outside our solar system. The
vast majority of these planetary systems are very different
from our own solar system. In particular the discovery of
'Hot Jupiters' has led to a variety of theories on how such
planets are formed. The search for planets around young
stars is aimed at studying planetary systems with one or
more Jupiter mass planets before the system has reached a
long term equilibrium.
SIM
Science Investigations
