Inspection and Characterization of Extrasolar Planetary Systems Using the CHARA Array

Extrasolar planetary systems are assumed as a sample to exhibit random orbital inclinations. The chance exists that at least a few of the 172 known planetary systems may have face-on orbits for which the sin(i) factor will make a stellar-mass companion mimic a planetary-mass object. Such systems may thus harbor a late spectral type stellar companion instead of planets. Using Georgia State University's CHARA Array, an optical/infrared interferometer located on Mount Wilson, CA, I have undertaken an observing program on 35 of the accessible extrasolar planetary systems in order to discover if there were any unseen stellar companions lurking in face-on orbits. I also measured the diameters of the central stars (when possible) in an effort to refine our knowledge of the evolutionary status of the host stars.