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arXiv · 1208.4554

Identification and Removal of Noise Modes in Kepler Photometry

Erik A. Petigura·Geoffrey W. Marcy
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Abstract

We present the Transiting Exoearth Robust Reduction Algorithm (TERRA) --- a novel framework for identifying and removing instrumental noise in Kepler photometry. We identify instrumental noise modes by finding common trends in a large ensemble of light curves drawn from the entire Kepler field of view. Strategically, these noise modes can be optimized to reveal transits having a specified range of timescales. For Kepler target stars of low photometric noise, TERRA produces ensemble-calibrated photometry having 33 ppm RMS scatter in 12-hour bins, rendering individual transits of earth-size planets around sun-like stars detectable as ~3 sigma signals.

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Erik A. Petigura, Geoffrey W. Marcy. 2012-08-22. Identification and Removal of Noise Modes in Kepler Photometry. https://doi.org/10.1086/668291

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