Population Synthesis Modelling: E.

Farrell
R. Farmer
Eclipsing Binary Contamination in the PLATO field U. Kolb

Abstract
We perform a series of binary population simulations to
estimate the number and type of eclipsing binaries in a given
PLATO field-of-view.

Preliminary results outline the distribution of simulated binary

eclipse depths. This distribution is used to provide an estimate
of the false positive rate for exoplanet transit detections from
shallow eclipses and grazing binaries. The simulated field is
further analysed for blends down to super-Earth mimics using a
nearest neighbour algorithm and Monte Carlo routines.

The population synthesis model uses a rapid stellar and binary

evolution scheme as in Hurley et al. (2000, 2002) and employs a
3D galactic dust extinction model from Drimmel et al. (2003).

The models allow a determination of both the number density

and properties of eclipsing systems and their blends for a given
magnitude range as a function of Galactic longitude and
latitude.

PLATO 2.0 Proposed 'Long Stare' fields

adapted from Rauer et al (2013)

Expected Distribution – Eclipsing Binaries Blend Detection Algorithm

● Each target star in synthetic field
scanned for neighbouring binaries
● Nearest neighbour algorithm identifies
all binary systems within 15” of target
● Faint Sources:
Magnitude Range 8 ≤ mr ≤ 26
● Uses standard open-source ASTROPY
package

Distribution of eclipse depths in PLATO Northern long-duration field – Section of synthetic field with positions of single stars (red) and
at various latitudes with a magnitude range of 8 ≤ mr ≤ 26 binaries (green) indicated.

● Figure above refers to a central strip of 1° width, from latitude 15° to 60°,
through the centre of the provisional northern 'long-stare' field:
centred at l=65°, b=30° (Rauer et al 2013)
● Based on present-day binary population model obtained from initial
distributions of newly forming binaries convolved with Galactic star
formation rate – Farmer et al (2013), Willems et al (2002)
● Uses rapid stellar & binary evolution scheme from Hurley et al (2000, 2002)
Blended Binary System Properties Blended Transit Depth Distribution
● Includes comprehensive dust extinction model - Drimmel et al. (2003)
● Eclipse depths calculated using JKTEBOP - Southworth et al (2004)

Ongoing Work:
Fully Represent PLATO fields – CCD modelling

Expand analysis to PLATO Southern Field (long duration)

Add treatment of hierarchical (triple) blends

Perform comparison with alternative long duration fields

Classification of complete binary contaminant population

Distribution of binary system blends in 1°x1° Expected number of systems at each apparent transit
sub-field ( l=65°, b=30°) over orbital period (P) and depth (blended), focused on Earth-analog transit
binary eclipse depth (unblended) depths

● Average of 20 Monte Carlo simulations ● Sample Monte Carlo simulation output

References: ● Full characterisation of each contaminating binary system - ● Random inclination angle i assigned to each binary
orbital period, masses, luminosities system (assumed flat distribution of i )
Drimmel, R., A. Cabrera-Lavers, and M. López-Corredoira, ‘A Three-Dimensional Galactic Extinction ● Properties available per eclipse depth bin ● Binary eclipse depths combined with target star (third
Model’, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 409 (2003), 205–15 light) and apparent transit depth calculated
● Most likely source of contaminating systems identified
Farmer, R., U. Kolb, and A. J. Norton, ‘The True Stellar Parameters of the Kepler Target List’, MNRAS, 433
(2013), 1133–45

Hurley, Jarrod R., Onno R. Pols, and Christopher A. Tout, ‘Comprehensive Analytic Formulae for Stellar
Evolution as a Function of Mass and Metallicity’, MNRAS, 315 (2000), 543–69

Hurley, J. R., C. A. Tout, and O. R. Pols, ‘Evolution of Binary Stars and the Effect of Tides on Binary
Software Credits

Populations’, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 329 (2002), 897–928

Rauer, H., C. Catala, C. Aerts, T. Appourchaux, W. Benz, A. Brandeker, and others, ‘The PLATO 2.0
Mission’, ArXiv e-prints, 1310 (2013), 696
The Astropy Project is a community effort to
Southworth, J., P. F. L. Maxted, and B. Smalley, ‘Eclipsing Binaries in Open Clusters - II. V453 Cyg in NGC
Completely free enterprise-ready Python distribution develop a single core package for Astronomy in
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for large-scale data processing, predictive analytics, Python and foster interoperability between Python
and scientific computing astronomy packages.
Willems, B., and U. Kolb, ‘Population Synthesis of Wide Binary Millisecond Pulsars’, MNRAS, 337 (2002),
1004–16