Abstract:  A major bottleneck for Kepler exoplanet demographics has been the lack of precise properties for most of the observed stars. In this talk, I will present the first homogeneous and precise characterization of stellar radii, masses, and ages of all Kepler targets using Gaia DR2. Applying these improved stellar parameters to revise exoplanet properties, I will present the dependence of the planet radius gap on stellar mass and age. In particular, I will present first evidence for the planet radius gap’s dependence on stellar age on timescales of a Gyr. I will also reveal that there are bona-fide planets within the “hot sub-Neptunian desert” and show that these planets are preferentially orbiting more evolved stars compared to other planets at similar incident fluxes. Finally, I will discuss my recent, ongoing, and future work on the stellar ages of Kepler exoplanet hosts and its implications for the evolution of exoplanets. Because stellar ages are an unexplored dimension in exoplanet parameter space, they represent an exciting new frontier which we can use to place the observed exoplanet population into context.

Host:  Jacob Luhn

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://psu.zoom.us/j/96060188956