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Advancing Precision Spectroscopy and Detecting Earth Analogs

February 18, 2026
4:10 PM - 5:10 PM
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Pupin 1402

Colloquium by Lily Zhao, Chicago

Extreme precision radial velocity (EPRV) measurements, capable of capturing signals with an amplitude of just 10-30 cm/s, are needed to needed to uncover low-mass planets and inform planet formation scenarios, calculate planetary interior composition, and constrain atmospheric models.    This need has given rise to innovation in precision spectroscopy at all levels--from the instrumentation to the extraction software through to the astrophysics guiding the final derived RV measurements.  We are now in an era of unprecedentedly high-fidelity spectra, which fundamentally redefines how these data can and should be analyzed.  I will give an overview of how data-driven, machine-learning algorithms have advanced RV precision, and how they can shape the future of the field.  Building on a baseline of 6+ years of EPRV-quality data, we can now explore information-complete algorithms to find Earths, optimize instrumentation, and image stellar surfaces.

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Host: Timothy Halpin-Healy