John Barnes

Research Interests

I am a member of the Low Mass Group at the Centre for Astrophysics Research and have considerable experience in high resolution spectroscopy of low mass stars. I currently work on detection and characterisation of extrasolar planets. New infrared spectrometers should enable the detection of Earth-mass planets around low mass stars while current infrared technology can be used to study the atmospheres of hot, close orbiting extrasolar giant planets.

aephe movie

Highlights: First high resolution Doppler images of G dwarf stars: study of dynamo action through observation of starspot distributions. Observation of a decrease in the differential rotation rate with decreasing stellar mass: Fully convective stars exhibit no differential rotation in accordance with predictions. Near infrared, high resolution spectroscopic observations of close orbiting extrasolar giant planets: determination of limits on the relative planetary brightness and molecular species present.