Researchers from the University of Georgia, United States, have used Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools to detect evidence of previously-unknown exoplanets. The research, which was recently published in The Astrophysical Journal, showed that machine learning is capable of correctly determining whether exoplanets are present in protoplanetary disks (the gas and dust surrounding newly formed stars).
The study was led by Jason Terry, a doctoral student in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, who worked alongside Cassandra Hall, an assistant professor of Computational Astrophysics and principal investigator of the Exoplanet and Planet Formation Research Group.
According to Terry, the research involved applying machine learning models to an older set of observations that most likely contained evidence of a previously overlooked planet. Even though the team used traditional techniques to confirm the existence of the planet, their models helped show exactly the planet’s location.
Further examination revealed that the velocity of the gas near the planet was unusually high, a sign of the planet’s planetary-like activities and characteristics. This finding demonstrates that Machine Learning can quickly and accurately identify previously omitted information, providing researchers with enhanced accuracy and helping them economize their time.
The University of Georgia, also known as UGA, is a flagship public research university located in the vibrant city of Athens, Georgia and was founded in 1785 as America’s first state-chartered university. The school offers a wide variety of majors and research opportunities, providing students with the chance to gain invaluable experience and knowledge while they pursue their academic and professional opportunities.
Cassandra Hall is an astrophysicist and professor at UGA. Her research focuses on exoplanet theory, hydrodynamic simulations of circumstellar disks, and planet formation processes. She also works on using machine learning to identify previously overlooked exoplanets as well as developing sophisticated hydrodynamic models of protoplanetary disks. She is the leader of the Exoplanet and Planet Formation Research Group at UGA, which is a laboratory for high-end theoretical, observational and numerical research of astrophysical processes involving planet formation, migration and their interdependence.
