J/A+A/537/A67 MESS: Multi-purpose Exoplanet Simulation System (Bonavita+, 2012)
A Monte Carlo tool for the statistical analysis and prediction of exoplanets
search results.
Bonavita M., Chauvin G., Desidera S., Gratton R., Janson M., Beuzit J.L.,
Kasper M., Mordasini C.
<Astron. Astrophys. 537, A67 (2012)>
=2012A&A...537A..67B 2012A&A...537A..67B
ADC_Keywords: Stars, double and multiple ; Planets
Keywords: brown dwarfs - methods: statistical - methods: data analysis -
planetary systems
Abstract:
The high number of planet discoveries made in the last years provides
a good sample for statistical analysis, leading to some clues on the
distributions of planet parameters, like masses and periods, at least
in close proximity to the host star. We likely need to wait for the
extremely large telescopes (ELTs) to have an overall view of the
extrasolar planetary systems. In this context it would be useful to
have a tool that can be used for the interpretation of the present
results, and also to predict what the outcomes would be of the future
instruments. For this reason we built MESS: a Monte Carlo simulation
code which uses either the results of the statistical analysis of the
properties of discovered planets, or the results of the planet
formation theories, to build synthetic planet populations fully
described in terms of frequency, orbital elements and physical
properties. They can then be used to either test the consistency of
their properties with the observed population of planets given
different detection techniques or to actually predict the expected
number of planets for future surveys. In addition to the code
description, we present here some of its applications to actually
probe the physical and orbital properties of a putative companion
within the circumstellar disk of a given star and to test constrain
the orbital distribution properties of a potential planet population
around the members of the TW Hydrae association. Finally, using in its
predictive mode, the synergy of future space and ground-based
telescopes instrumentation has been investigated to identify the
mass-period parameter space that will be probed in future surveys for
giant and rocky planets.
Description:
All the IDL routines needed to run the MESS code are included,
together with a script providing an example of its use, and all the
necessary input files.
Save all the file in the same directory, or add the directory where
the .pro files are extracted to your IDL path.
A step by step tutorial, further examples and newer versions of the
code can be downloaded from www.messthecode.com
Please send an email to for any
suggestion/request.
File Summary:
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FileName Lrecl Records Explanations
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ReadMe 80 . This file
list.dat 90 6 List of files in prog subdirectory
prog/* . 6 All files related to the code
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Byte-by-byte Description of file: list.dat
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Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
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1- 20 A20 --- FileName Name of the file in subdirectory prog
26- 90 A65 --- Title Title of the file
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Acknowledgements:
Mariangela Bonavita, mariangela.bonavita(at)gmail.com
(End) Patricia Vannier [CDS] 10-Nov-2011