High precision radial velocities in the near-infrared domain: Status and prospects

Abstract

Abstract. The extension of the highly successful Doppler technique into the near-infrared (0.9-2.5 m) is highly desirable as it would open the possibility for searches for extra-solar planets around young stars, very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. Here we review the current status of this technique and discuss future prospects with particular emphasis on challenging problems for the next decade. BACKGROUNDIn less than two decades, more than 700 exoplanets, brown dwarfs (BDs) and planetary mass objects (3-13 Jupiter mass free floating objects) have been identified. In addition, we have witnessed a revolution in the field of debris disks studies with the completion of extended surveys that have identified about 300 stars that harbor debris dust, shedding light into the frequency of planetesimal formation (the building blocks of planets) and the characterization of extra-solar planetesimal belts. Although a very interesting picture of this rich "zoology" is emerging, several important questions remain to be answered, such as for example: What is the diversity of planetary systems, including long period planets (beyond the reach of radial velocity (RV) and transit surveys) and exotic systems? What is their dynamical evolution? What are the properties of exoplanets (orbits, masses and atmospheric properties)? What are the frequencies and properties of planetesimal belts and what are the implications for the frequency of terrestrial planet formation, for the habitability of the planetary system and for water delivery into the terrestrial planet region? How common are Earth-like planets?This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial License 3.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any noncommercial medium, provided the original work is properly cited.