Identification of Small Ultra-short-period Exoplanets Using Advanced Detection Techniques

A recent study has identified five small ultra-short-period (USP) planets orbiting K dwarfs, utilizing a novel detection method that combines GPU Phase Folding and deep learning techniques. The research, conducted by Kaitlyn Wang and colleagues, highlights the potential of the GPFC method to enhance the search for new transiting exoplanets in photometric data from missions like Kepler and TESS.

The identified candidates include:

• K00446.c: Orbits a K dwarf with a period of 0.645091 days and has a radius of 0.461 times that of Earth, making it the second smallest USP discovered.
• K01821.b: A sub-Earth with a radius of 0.648 times that of Earth, orbiting a G dwarf every 0.91978 days.
• K01522.c: Has a radius of 0.704 times that of Earth and completes an orbit around a Sun-like G dwarf in 0.64672 days.
• K03404.b: With a radius of 0.738 times that of Earth, it orbits a G dwarf on a 0.68074-day period.
• K04978.b: This planet has a radius of 0.912 times that of Earth and orbits a G dwarf every 0.94197 days.

The findings underscore the effectiveness of the GPFC method, which significantly accelerates the transit search process compared to traditional methods. This advancement could lead to the discovery of more small exoplanets, enriching our understanding of planetary formation and diversity in the universe. The study is set to be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and can be cited as follows: Wang, K., Ge, J., Willis, K., Wang, K., Zhao, Y. (2023). Discovery of Small Ultra-short-period Planets Orbiting KG Dwarfs in Kepler Survey Using GPU Phase Folding and Deep Learning Detection System. arXiv:2312.17382.