EPSAM

The properties of spots on low-mass stars in transiting planetary and eclipsing binary systems

Lead supervisor:  Dr John Taylor

Low-mass stars exhibit dark spots on their surfaces due to magnetic activity. These starspots modify the physical properties and complicate the interpretation of the stars. The characteristics of starspots can be studied through the modulation they induce on long-term light curves of the stars. Their signature is also unambiguously visible during eclipse events in transiting planetary and eclipsing binary systems. The starspot properties of known transiting extrasolar planetary and low-mass eclipsing binary systems will be studied using light curves of these objects obtained by the NASA Kepler satellite and other facilities. Their impact on the analysis of the light curves will be assessed. The distributions and temporal evolution of the spots, plus the rotational characteristics of the stars, will be investigated.