Research
I'm an observational astronomer studying exoplanets (planets orbiting stars other than the Sun). Please see below for a sample of the topics I'm interested in and publications.
Research
I'm an observational astronomer studying exoplanets (planets orbiting stars other than the Sun). Please see below for a sample of the topics I'm interested in and publications.
Please click here for an ADS search of my publications.
Please click here for a PDF version of my CV.
Ensemble Properties of Planetary Systems
I study the architectures of systems of planets, to identify the nature of a "typical" system and to investigate its formation.
Ensemble Properties of Planetary Systems
I study the architectures of systems of planets, to identify the nature of a "typical" system and to investigate its formation.
Please click here for the mock catalog of M dwarf planetary systems in which TESS detected at least one planet, from Ballard (2018). The table includes additional transiting and non-transiting planets orbiting the same star, but undetected in the TESS lightcurves.
Please find here the TESS completeness functions, readable in Python, for stars with masses 0.3M_sun, 0.4M_sun, and 0.5M_sun (readme)
"The Kepler Dichotomy among the M Dwarfs: Half of Systems Contain Five or More Coplanar Planets"
Ballard & Johnson (2016)
Individual systems
I characterize and validate new exoplanets.
Individual systems
I characterize and validate new exoplanets.
"Characterization of Low Mass K2 Planet Hosts Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy"
Rodríguez-Martínez, Ballard, et al. (2018)
"Kepler-93b: A Terrestrial World Measured to within 120 km, and a Test Case for a New Spitzer Observing Mode"
Ballard, Chaplin, Charbonneau et al. (2014)
"Exoplanet Characterization by Proxy: A Transiting 2.15 R⊕ Planet near the Habitable Zone of the Late K Dwarf Kepler-61"
Ballard, Charbonneau, Fressin, et al. (2013)
"The Kepler-19 System: A Transiting 2.2 R⊕ Planet and a Second Planet Detected via Transit Timing Variations"
Ballard, Fabrycky, Fressin, et al. (2011)
Uncovering Hidden Planets
I seek out new planets using their photometric or dynamical signatures.
Uncovering Hidden Planets
I seek out new planets using their photometric or dynamical signatures.
"THE KEPLER-19 SYSTEM: A TRANSITING 2.2 R⊕ PLANET AND A SECOND PLANET DETECTED VIA TRANSIT TIMING VARIATIONS"
Ballard, Fabrycky, Fressin, et al. (2011)
"A Search for Additional Planets in the NASA EPOXI Observations of the Exoplanet System GJ 436"
Ballard, Christiansen, Charbonneau, et al. (2010)
"A SEARCH FOR A SUB-EARTH-SIZED COMPANION TO GJ 436 AND A NOVEL METHOD TO CALIBRATE WARM SPITZER IRAC OBSERVATIONS"
Ballard, Charbonneau, Deming, et al. (2010)
"A Search for Additional Planets in Five of the Exoplanetary Systems Studied by the NASA EPOXI Mission"
Ballard, Christiansen, Charbonneau, et al. (2011)
Photometric Techniques
I identify ways to improve the precision of existing instruments.
Photometric Techniques
I identify ways to improve the precision of existing instruments.
"A SEARCH FOR A SUB-EARTH-SIZED COMPANION TO GJ 436 AND A NOVEL METHOD TO CALIBRATE WARM SPITZER IRAC OBSERVATIONS"
Ballard, Charbonneau, Deming, et al. (2010)
"A SEARCH FOR ADDITIONAL PLANETS IN THE NASA EPOXI OBSERVATIONS OF THE EXOPLANET SYSTEM GJ 436"
Ballard, Christiansen, Charbonneau, et al. (2010)