Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-28-2026

Abstract

Circumbinary planets (CBPs) are worlds which orbit two stars simultaneously. CBPs are excellent tests of the tenacity of planet formation, but are difficult to detect. The space-based NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission is a nearly all-sky survey designed to detect exoplanets transiting nearby stars. In this dissertation, I analyze the performance of TESS by comparing to the photometric precision of the ESA CHEOPS mission. Then, I define a catalog of low-mass eclipsing binaries (M&Ms), which are the best sources to search for CBPs. I describe my custom transit search methodology and apply it to the M&M catalog. I then calculate survey completeness, which I use to constrain the occurrence rate of transiting CBPs in TESS data. I find that M&M CBPs are rare.

Degree Name

Physics

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Physics & Astronomy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Diana Dragomir

Second Committee Member

Greg Taylor

Third Committee Member

Mousumi Roy

Fourth Committee Member

Andrej Prsa

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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