300 MHz Survey of Cyclotron Emission from known Extra-Solar Planets

Model of Jupiter Radio Frequency Emission
G. I. Langston (NRAO), Chris Orban (UIUC) and Tim Bastian (NRAO)
Spectral intensity versus time image of Star Ups Andromeda

Abstract

All magnetized planets in our solar system emit intense cyclotron maser radiation. Like Jupiter, the recently discovered extra-solar planets are probably magnetized. If in addition, there is a source of energetic (keV) electrons in their magnetospheres, it is likely that extra-solar planets are also cyclotron-maser emitters.

We present a progress report on a survey of 16 Extra-solar planets around nearby stars. This survey used the Robert C Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) for dual circularly polarized observations at 285 to 335 MHz. Using the GBT spectrometer, we produced high time and frequency resolution observations, searching for flaring events. To date, only upper limits can be placed on the flaring emission from these planets. Since cyclotron maser emission from Jupiter is episodic, long observations may be required to detect Extra-solar planets. Detection of Faint Radio Sources by Spectral Variation is Difficult!

Poster

The poster is available as PDF, as postscript, and as LaTeX.

The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope is a facility of NRAO.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facillity of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

glangsto -at- nrao.edu, last update: 2003 February 6