# # Program information file # PROGRAM_ID 2021B011 PROGRAM_TITLE Radial Velocity Follow Up of Exoplanet Candidates Orbiting Cool Low Mass Stars Identified With TESS PROGRAM_INV1 Bryson Cale PROGRAM_INV2 Peter Plavchan PROGRAM_INV3 Kevin Collins PROGRAM_INV4 Mohammed El Mufti PROGRAM_INV5 Eric Gaidos PROGRAM_SCICAT extra-solar planets PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_BEG We propose to use the iSHELL spectrograph to obtain follow-up radial-velocity [RV] measurements to continue monitoring TESS [Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite] candidate planets orbiting cool low mass stars. Measuring the RVs of transiting candidate exoplanet systems provides confirmation of the candidates, determination of their masses and bulk density, evidence for additional planets, and constraints on the orbital eccentricities. Cooler stars [particularly M dwarfs] are favorable for RV follow-up with their lower masses and relatively shorter orbital periods for planets, allowing for a Habitable Zone [HZ] shortcut to detecting Earth-like worlds. Further, stellar activity induced RVs from star spots and plages are weakened at near infrared [NIR] wavelengths. We specifically choose six K & M dwarfs to intensely observe in 2021B in order to confirm the existence of the candidate TOIs, constrain orbital eccentricities, and search for longer period planets. We will observe with a 0.375'' slit in KGAS mode [2.18-2.47 microns] with the methane isotopologue gas cell as a calibration source. With iSHELL, we have already aided in confirming seven TOIs with notably small semi-amplitudes [3-15 m/s]. PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_END