Astronomical observations have shown that exoplanets commonly exist in other stellar systems. Extrasolar planet searches have yielded a wide variety of planetary systems around other stars. The discoveries include planetary systems with two or more detected planets and planets in binary star systems. Multi-planet systems and, in particular, those with planets in or near orbital resonances provide important constraints on the formation and dynamical evolution of planetary systems.
The HKIAA members are investigating the current dynamical states and origins of multi-planet systems and planets in binary star systems and make use of the knowledge gained from these systems to study the formation of planets and satellites through numerical simulations (Lee). They also perform observational and theoretical studies of the formation of stars (Li).
