Abstract

We present initial results of a program to measure precise radial velocities and chromospheric activity levels for stars younger than the Sun. Using a sample of ~150 solar-type stars, we establish an empirical relationship between chromospheric activity and radial velocity ""jitter"". The floor of this relationship, which increases with increasing stellar activity, limits the minimum planet mass detectable around young stars to values higher than those corresponding to the instrumental limit. For stars younger than ~1 Gyr, typical levels of activity-induced jitter limit the sensitivity of radial velocity detectable planets to ~Neptune mass companions or larger, while at 0.1 Gyr the limit is to ~Saturn mass companions.

Presentation

Poster