The atmospheres of gaseous giant exoplanets orbiting close to their parent stars (hot Jupiters) have been probed for nearly two decades
. They allow us to investigate the chemical and physical ...properties of planetary atmospheres under extreme irradiation conditions
. Previous observations of hot Jupiters as they transit in front of their host stars have revealed the frequent presence of water vapour
and carbon monoxide
in their atmospheres; this has been studied in terms of scaled solar composition
under the usual assumption of chemical equilibrium. Both molecules as well as hydrogen cyanide were found in the atmosphere of HD 209458b
, a well studied hot Jupiter (with equilibrium temperature around 1,500 kelvin), whereas ammonia was tentatively detected there
and subsequently refuted
. Here we report observations of HD 209458b that indicate the presence of water (H
O), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), methane (CH
), ammonia (NH
) and acetylene (C
H
), with statistical significance of 5.3 to 9.9 standard deviations per molecule. Atmospheric models in radiative and chemical equilibrium that account for the detected species indicate a carbon-rich chemistry with a carbon-to-oxygen ratio close to or greater than 1, higher than the solar value (0.55). According to existing models relating the atmospheric chemistry to planet formation and migration scenarios
, this would suggest that HD 209458b formed far from its present location and subsequently migrated inwards
. Other hot Jupiters may also show a richer chemistry than has been previously found, which would bring into question the frequently made assumption that they have solar-like and oxygen-rich compositions.
Abstract
Hot Jupiters orbiting extremely close to their host star may experience atmospheric escape due to the large amounts of high-energy radiation they receive. Understanding the conditions under ...which this occurs is critical, as atmospheric escape is believed to be a driving factor in sculpting planetary populations. In recent years, the near-infrared 10833 Å helium feature has been found to be a promising spectral signature of atmospheric escape. We use transmission spectroscopy to search for excess helium absorption in the extended atmosphere of WASP-48b, a hot Jupiter orbiting a slightly evolved, rapidly rotating F star. The data were collected using the Habitable-zone Planet Finder spectrograph on the Hobby–Eberly Telescope. Observations were taken over the course of seven nights, from which we obtain three transits. No detectable helium absorption is seen, as absorption depth is measured to −0.0025 ± 0.0021, or 1.2
σ
from a null detection. This nondetection follows our current understanding of decreasing stellar activity (and thus high-energy radiation) with age. We use a 1D isothermal Parker wind model to compare with our observations and find that our nondetection can best be explained with a low planetary mass-loss rate and high thermosphere temperature. We explore our results within the context of the full sample of helium detections and nondetections to date. Surprisingly, comparing helium absorption with the stellar activity index
log
R
HK
′
reveals a large spread in the correlation between these two factors, suggesting that there are additional parameters influencing the helium absorption strength.
Abstract
We present a radial velocity (RV) analysis of TOI-1136, a bright Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) system with six confirmed transiting planets, and a seventh single-transiting ...planet candidate. All planets in the system are amenable to transmission spectroscopy, making TOI-1136 one of the best targets for intra-system comparison of exoplanet atmospheres. TOI-1136 is young (∼700 Myr), and the system exhibits transit timing variations (TTVs). The youth of the system contributes to high stellar variability on the order of 50 m s
−1
, much larger than the likely RV amplitude of any of the transiting exoplanets. Utilizing 359 High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer and Automated Planet Finder RVs collected as part of the TESS-Keck Survey, and 51 High-Accuracy Radial velocity Planetary Searcher North RVs, we experiment with a joint TTV-RV fit. With seven possible transiting planets, TTVs, more than 400 RVs, and a stellar activity model, we posit that we may be presenting the most complex mass recovery of an exoplanet system in the literature to date. By combining TTVs and RVs, we minimized Gaussian process overfitting and retrieved new masses for this system: (
m
b−g
=
3.50
−
0.7
+
0.8
,
6.32
−
1.3
+
1.1
,
8.35
−
1.6
+
1.8
,
6.07
−
1.01
+
1.09
,
9.7
−
3.7
+
3.9
,
5.6
−
3.2
+
4.1
M
⊕
). We are unable to significantly detect the mass of the seventh planet candidate in the RVs, but we are able to loosely constrain a possible orbital period near 80 days. Future TESS observations might confirm the existence of a seventh planet in the system, better constrain the masses and orbital properties of the known exoplanets, and generally shine light on this scientifically interesting system.
Abstract
We present the spectroscopic confirmation and precise mass measurement of the warm giant planet TOI-199 b. This planet was first identified in TESS photometry and confirmed using ...ground-based photometry from ASTEP in Antarctica including a full 6.5 hr long transit, PEST, Hazelwood, and LCO; space photometry from NEOSSat; and radial velocities (RVs) from FEROS, HARPS, CORALIE, and CHIRON. Orbiting a late G-type star, TOI-199 b has a
104.854
−
0.002
+
0.001
day
period, a mass of 0.17 ± 0.02
M
J
, and a radius of 0.810 ± 0.005
R
J
. It is the first warm exo-Saturn with a precisely determined mass and radius. The TESS and ASTEP transits show strong transit timing variations (TTVs), pointing to the existence of a second planet in the system. The joint analysis of the RVs and TTVs provides a unique solution for the nontransiting companion TOI-199 c, which has a period of
273.69
−
0.22
+
0.26
days
and an estimated mass of
0.28
−
0.01
+
0.02
M
J
. This period places it within the conservative habitable zone.
ABSTRACT
We present an independent discovery and detailed characterization of K2-280 b, a transiting low density warm sub-Saturn in a 19.9-d moderately eccentric orbit (e = $0.35_{-0.04}^{+0.05}$ ) ...from K2 campaign 7. A joint analysis of high precision HARPS, HARPS-N, and FIES radial velocity measurements and K2 photometric data indicates that K2-280 b has a radius of Rb = 7.50 ± 0.44 R⊕ and a mass of Mb = 37.1 ± 5.6 M⊕, yielding a mean density of ρb = $0.48 _{ - 0.10 } ^ { + 0.13 }$ ${\rm g\, cm^{-3}}$. The host star is a mildly evolved G7 star with an effective temperature of Teff = 5500 ± 100 K, a surface gravity of $\log \, g_{\star }$ = 4.21 ± 0.05 (cgs), and an iron abundance of Fe/H = ${0.33}\, {\pm }\, {0.08}$ dex, and with an inferred mass of M⋆ = 1.03 ± 0.03 M⊙ and a radius of R⋆ = 1.28 ± 0.07 R⊙. We discuss the importance of K2-280 b for testing formation scenarios of sub-Saturn planets and the current sample of this intriguing group of planets that are absent in the Solar system.
Greening of the brown-dwarf desert Persson, Carina M.; Csizmadia, Szilárd; Mustill, Alexander J. ...
Astronomy & astrophysics,
08/2019, Letnik:
628
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context. Although more than 2000 brown dwarfs have been detected to date, mainly from direct imaging, their characterisation is difficult due to their faintness and model-dependent results. In the ...case of transiting brown dwarfs, however, it is possible to make direct high-precision observations. Aims. Our aim is to investigate the nature and formation of brown dwarfs by adding a new well-characterised object, in terms of its mass, radius and bulk density, to the currently small sample of less than 20 transiting brown dwarfs. Methods. One brown dwarf candidate was found by the KESPRINT consortium when searching for exoplanets in the K2 space mission Campaign 16 field. We combined the K2 photometric data with a series of multicolour photometric observations, imaging, and radial velocity measurements to rule out false positive scenarios and to determine the fundamental properties of the system. Results. We report the discovery and characterisation of a transiting brown dwarf in a 5.17-day eccentric orbit around the slightly evolved F7 V star EPIC 212036875. We find a stellar mass of 1.15 ± 0.08 M⊙, a stellar radius of 1.41 ± 0.05 R⊙, and an age of 5.1 ± 0.9 Gyr. The mass and radius of the companion brown dwarf are 51 ± 2 MJ and 0.83 ± 0.03 RJ, respectively, corresponding to a mean density of 108−13+15 $108_{-13} ^{+15}$ 108−13+15 g cm−3. Conclusions. EPIC 212036875 b is a rare object that resides in the brown-dwarf desert. In the mass-density diagram for planets, brown dwarfs, and stars, we find that all giant planets and brown dwarfs follow the same trend from ~0.3 MJ to the turn-over to hydrogen burning stars at ~ 73 MJ. EPIC 212036875 b falls close to the theoretical model for mature H/He dominated objects in this diagram as determined by interior structure models. We argue that EPIC 212036875 b formed via gravitational disc instabilities in the outer part of the disc, followed by a quick migration. Orbital tidal circularisation may have started early in its history for a brief period when the brown dwarf’s radius was larger. The lack of spin–orbit synchronisation points to a weak stellar dissipation parameter ( Q⋆′ ≳ 108 $Q^{\prime}_{\star}\gtrsim10^8$Q⋆′≳108 ), which implies a circularisation timescale of ≳23 Gyr, or suggests an interaction between the magnetic and tidal forces of the star and the brown dwarf.
ABSTRACT
At young ages, when radiation from the host star is high, and the planet is hot and inflated after formation, planetary atmospheric mass-loss can be extremely strong compared to older ...planets. In turn, stellar winds are faster and denser for young stars compared to evolved main-sequence stars. Their interaction with escaping planetary atmospheres can substantially affect atmospheric mass-loss rates, as well as the observable signatures of escaping atmospheres, with both effects expected to occur differently for young and evolved planets. We perform a comparative study of two systems around stars of similar masses but very different ages (50 Myr and 9 Gyr): TOI-942 and TOI-421. Both stars host two sub-Neptune-like planets at similar orbits and in similar mass ranges, which allows a direct comparison of the atmospheric escape and interactions with the stellar winds in the young and old systems. We perform the 3D atmospheric modelling of the four planets in TOI-942 and TOI-421 systems and make the theoretical predictions of possible observational signatures in Ly α absorption. We find that accounting for the stellar wind interacting with planetary atmospheres is crucial for the interpretation of the observations for young planets. Additionally, we show that a particular energy distribution along the XUV spectra has a minor effect on the atmospheric mass-loss rates, but it is of crucial importance for modelling the Ly α absorption and therefore for interpretation of observations.
A spectral survey of WASP-19b with ESPRESSO Sedaghati, Elyar; MacDonald, Ryan J; Casasayas-Barris, Núria ...
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
07/2021, Letnik:
505, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
ABSTRACT
High-resolution precision spectroscopy provides a multitude of robust techniques for probing exoplanetary atmospheres. We present multiple VLT/ESPRESSO transit observations of the ...hot-Jupiter exoplanet WASP-19b with previously published but disputed atmospheric features from low resolution studies. Through spectral synthesis and modelling of the Rossiter–McLaughlin (RM) effect we calculate stellar, orbital and physical parameters for the system. From narrow-band spectroscopy we do not detect any of H i, Fe i, Mg i, Ca i, Na i, and K i neutral species, placing upper limits on their line contrasts. Through cross-correlation analyses with atmospheric models, we do not detect Fe i and place a 3σ upper limit of $\log \, (X_{\textrm {Fe}}/X_\odot) \approx -1.83\, \pm \, 0.11$ on its mass fraction, from injection and retrieval. We show the inability to detect the presence of H2O for known abundances, owing to lack of strong absorption bands, as well as relatively low S/N ratio. We detect a barely significant peak (3.02 ± 0.15 σ) in the cross-correlation map for TiO, consistent with the sub-solar abundance previously reported. This is merely a hint for the presence of TiO and does not constitute a confirmation. However, we do confirm the presence of previously observed enhanced scattering towards blue wavelengths, through chromatic RM measurements, pointing to a hazy atmosphere. We finally present a reanalysis of low-resolution transmission spectra of this exoplanet, concluding that unocculted starspots alone cannot explain previously detected features. Our reanalysis of the FORS2 spectra of WASP-19b finds a ∼100× sub-solar TiO abundance, precisely constrained to $\log \, X_{\textrm {TiO}} \approx -7.52 \pm 0.38$, consistent with the TiO hint from ESPRESSO. We present plausible paths to reconciliation with other seemingly contradicting results.
We present the first detection of atomic emission lines from the atmosphere of an exoplanet. We detect neutral iron lines from the dayside of KELT-9b (Teq ∼ 4000 K). We combined thousands of ...spectrally resolved lines observed during one night with the HARPS-N spectrograph (R ∼ 115,000), mounted at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. We introduce a novel statistical approach to extract the planetary parameters from the binary mask cross-correlation analysis. We also adapt the concept of contribution function to the context of high spectral resolution observations, to identify the location in the planetary atmosphere where the detected emission originates. The average planetary line profile intersected by a stellar G2 binary mask was found in emission with a contrast of 84 14 ppm relative to the planetary plus stellar continuum (40% 5% relative to the planetary continuum only). This result unambiguously indicates the presence of an atmospheric thermal inversion. Finally, assuming a modeled temperature profile previously published, we show that an iron abundance consistent with a few times the stellar value explains the data well. In this scenario, the iron emission originates at the 10−3-10−5 bar level.
ABSTRACT
The two planetary systems, TOI-942 and TOI-421, share many similar characteristics, apart from their ages (50 Myr and 9 Gyr). Each of the stars hosts two sub-Neptune-like planets at similar ...orbits and in similar mass ranges. In this paper, we aim to investigate whether the similarity of the host stars and configuration of the planetary systems can be taken as proof that the two systems were formed and evolved in a similar way. In paper I of this series, we performed a comparative study of these two systems using three-dimensional (3D) modelling of atmospheric escape and its interaction with the stellar wind, for the four planets. We demonstrated that though the strong wind of the young star has a crucial effect on observable signatures, its effect on the atmospheric mass loss is minor in the evolutionary context. Here, we use atmosphere evolution models to track the evolution of planets in the younger system TOI-942 and also to constrain the past of the TOI-421 system. We demonstrate that despite all the similarities, the two planetary systems are on two very different evolutionary pathways. The inner planet in the younger system, TOI-942, will likely lose all of its atmosphere and become a super-Earth-like planet, while the outer planet will become a typical sub-Neptune. Concerning the older system, TOI-421, our evolution modelling suggests that they must have started their evolution with very substantial envelopes, which can be a hint of formation beyond the snow line.
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