Program: GN-2022A-FT-205

Planet formation theory predicts that giant planets are rare around low-mass stars, but this paradigm has been called into question by recent discoveries. Occurrence rates are needed to constrain possible formation mechanisms. We have investigated multi-epoch spectral observations of a volume-complete sample of 0.1-0.3 solar mass M dwarfs within 15pc and identified two stars with radial velocity variability suggestive of one or more giant planets. This variability persists in follow-up observations, but we require higher precision radial velocities to characterize the candidate orbits. We propose to gather twenty observations of each star with MAROON-X, whose precise radial velocities will allow us to confirm these candidates, fit their orbits, and determine planetary parameters. With these observations, we will be able to place the tightest constraints to date on the occurrence rate of giant planets around the lowest-mass stars.