High-Resolution Imaging for Statistical Validation of TESS Planet Candidates

[Submitted connected 21 Aug 2026]

View PDF HTML (experimental)

Abstract:High-resolution imaging is wide utilized to constrain false-positive scenarios successful exoplanet validation, but it is simply a finite follow-up assets that reaches only a subset of candidates, and its population-level effect connected validation outcomes has not been quantified done controlled removal experiments. Using an automated pipeline built connected TRICERATOPS, we compute the false-positive probability (FPP) of 443 TESS satellite candidates. For the 264 satellite candidates pinch high-resolution imaging observations, we compute FPP pinch and without the corresponding opposition curves, allowing america to quantify the effect of the further data. We find that 72% of 68 contrast-curve base validated planets would neglect validation without their adopted opposition curves. The fraction requiring imaging decreases pinch expanding satellite size, from 100% beneath $1.7~R_\oplus$ to $33\%$ supra $4~R_\oplus$: wrong our sample and TRICERATOPS-based analysis, the readiness of high-resolution imaging straight limits the output of small-planet validation and the proviso of validated targets for atmospheric characterization. Our study statistically validates 64 caller TESS planets pinch sizes spanning 0.94 to 7.83 $R_\oplus$ crossed hosts of spectral type M done F. Four of these are highly amenable to JWST observations based connected the transmission and emanation spectroscopy metrics, and each achieves validation only pinch its imaging constraint.