Spitzer Space Telescope - Guaranteed Time Observer Proposal #30136


A Search for Widely-Separated Low-Mass Companions Around Extra-Solar
Planetary Systems

Principal Investigator: Giovanni Fazio
           Institution: Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Co-Investigators: 
Michael Schuster, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory               
Brian Patten, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                   
Massimo Marengo, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                
Joseph Hora, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                    
Kevin Luhman, Penn State University                                   
Joseph Carson, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech                     
John Stauffer, Spitzer Science Center, Caltech                        
Patrick Lowrance, Spitzer Science Center, Caltech                     

Science Category: extrasolar planets 
 Observing Modes: IracMap 
  Hours Approved: 9.4 

Abstract:
We propose to extend our initial IRAC survey for widely-separated
sub-stellar mass companions around extra-solar planetary systems in
order to have a complete, volume-limited sample of Exoplanet systems
within 50  pc of the Sun.  Our survey is tuned to search for late-M,
L, and T-dwarf companions in these systems that are located about 50
to 10,000  AU from the primary.  These data, when combined with those
from other ground-based surveys, will be used to answer important
questions about the frequency of planetary and sub-stellar mass
companions over a wide range of possible separations from their
primaries.  The combined Exoplanet companion search would offer an
opportunity to place much stronger constraints on theoretical models
of star and planet formation as well as giant planet migration.