Research Note

Extrasolar planets in stellar multiple systems

¹ Astrophysical Institute and University Observatory Jena, Schillergäßchen 2, 07745 Jena, Germany
e-mail: troell@astro.uni-jena.de
² Physics Department, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
³ Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA

Received: 8 September 2011
Accepted: 3 April 2012

Abstract

Aims. Analyzing exoplanets detected by radial velocity (RV) or transit observations, we determine the multiplicity of exoplanet host stars in order to study the influence of a stellar companion on the properties of planet candidates.

Methods. Matching the host stars of exoplanet candidates detected by radial velocity or transit observations with online multiplicity catalogs in addition to a literature search, 57 exoplanet host stars are identified having a stellar companion.

Results. The resulting multiplicity rate of at least 12% for exoplanet host stars is about four times smaller than the multiplicity of solar like stars in general. The mass and the number of planets in stellar multiple systems depend on the separation between their host star and its nearest stellar companion, e.g. the planetary mass decreases with an increasing stellar separation. We present an updated overview of exoplanet candidates in stellar multiple systems, including 15 new systems (compared to the latest summary from 2009).