Peter Plavchan

About

Peter Plavchan is a leading figure in exoplanet detection and characterization, specializing in the development of high-precision radial velocity instrumentation. He is the principal architect of the MINERVA and MINERVA-Australis telescope arrays, which are dedicated to discovering and confirming exoplanets around bright stars. His work on MINERVA (37 citations) established a robotic facility that combines high-resolution spectroscopy with photometry, while MINERVA-Australis (21 citations) provides a unique Southern Hemisphere capability for following up planets discovered by NASA's TESS mission. Plavchan's research also addresses the challenges of stellar activity in exoplanet studies, as demonstrated by his detailed analysis of spot temperature and coverage on the active M dwarf AU Microscopii (9 citations). His innovative fiber coupling designs for 1-meter class telescopes (4 citations) have enabled efficient, automated observations. With a career focused on bridging the gap between detection and characterization, Plavchan's contributions are essential for measuring exoplanet masses and understanding planetary system architectures, particularly around young, active stars.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Miniature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array I: design, commissioning, and early photometric results

   37 citations · 2015
2. 2
   MINERVA-Australis. I. Design, Commissioning, and First Photometric Results

   21 citations · 2019
3. 3
   Quantifying the Transit Light Source Effect: Measurements of Spot Temperature and Coverage on the Photosphere of AU Microscopii with High-resolution Spectroscopy and Multicolor Photometry

   9 citations · 2024
4. 4
   Design, motivation, and on-sky tests of an efficient fiber coupling unit for 1-meter class telescopes

   4 citations · 2014

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links