Exoplanets and their host stars

Radial velocity and transit methods, which provide us with the planet mass and radius, are the most successful techniques to detect and characterize exoplanets. These methods when used together give us the bulk density and composition of exoplanets. We thereby know that planets can be diverse, ranging from larger gaseous giants to smaller Earth-like rocky exoplanets. Though the biggest scientific quest in the exoplanet field would be the discovery of another Earth-Sun system, it is important to note that Earth-like exoplanets need not orbit Sun-like stars. In this context it is of prime importance to discover planets around stars of distinct spectral types and masses. In my talk, I will present our research plans to focus on a population of sub-giants or evolved stars to search for gaseous giant planets. These close-in giant planets despite ease of detection are rarely observed around evolved stars and studying these systems would be interesting from the point of view of planetary demographics and understanding planet formation theories. I will also talk about the need to study multi-planetary systems to help understand planet architecture with modest meter class telescopes at our discretion.