Exocomets: A spectroscopic survey Rebollido, I.; Eiroa, C.; Montesinos, B. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
07/2020, Letnik:
639
Journal Article, Web Resource
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context.
While exoplanets are now routinely detected, the detection of small bodies in extrasolar systems remains challenging. Since the discovery of sporadic events, which are interpreted to be ...exocomets (falling evaporating bodies) around
β
Pic in the early 1980s, only ∼20 stars have been reported to host exocomet-like events.
Aims.
We aim to expand the sample of known exocomet-host stars, as well as to monitor the hot-gas environment around stars with previously known exocometary activity.
Methods.
We have obtained high-resolution optical spectra of a heterogeneous sample of 117 main-sequence stars in the spectral type range from B8 to G8. The data were collected in 14 observing campaigns over the course of two years from both hemispheres. We analysed the Ca
II
K&H and Na
I
D lines in order to search for non-photospheric absorptions that originated in the circumstellar environment and for variable events that could be caused by the outgassing of exocomet-like bodies.
Results.
We detected non-photospheric absorptions towards 50% of the sample, thus attributing a circumstellar origin to half of the detections (i.e. 26% of the sample). Hot circumstellar gas was detected in the metallic lines inspected via narrow stable absorptions and/or variable blue- and red-shifted absorption events. Such variable events were found in 18 stars in the Ca
II
and/or Na
I
lines; six of them are reported in the context of this work for the first time. In some cases, the variations we report in the Ca
II
K line are similar to those observed in
β
Pic. While we do not find a significant trend in the age or location of the stars, we do find that the probability of finding CS gas in stars with larger
v
sin
i
is higher. We also find a weak trend with the presence of near-infrared excess and with anomalous (
λ
Boo-like) abundances, but this would require confirmation by expanding the sample.
Context. Debris discs have often been described as gas-poor discs as the gas-to-dust ratio is expected to be considerably lower than in primordial, protoplanetary discs. However, recent observations ...have confirmed the presence of a non-negligible amount of cold gas in the circumstellar (CS) debris discs around young main-sequence stars. This cold gas has been suggested to be related to the outgassing of planetesimals and cometary-like objects. Aims. The goal of this paper is to investigate the presence of hot gas in the immediate surroundings of the cold-gas-bearing debris-disc central stars. Methods. High-resolution optical spectra of all currently known cold-gas-bearing debris-disc systems, with the exception of β Pic and Fomalhaut, have been obtained from La Palma (Spain), La Silla (Chile), and La Luz (Mexico) observatories. To verify the presence of hot gas around the sample of stars, we have analysed the Ca II H&K and the Na I D lines searching for non-photospheric absorptions of CS origin, usually attributed to cometary-like activity. Results. Narrow, stable Ca II and/or Na I absorption features have been detected superimposed to the photospheric lines in 10 out of the 15 observed cold-gas-bearing debris-disc stars. Features are found at the radial velocity of the stars, or slightly blue- or red-shifted, and/or at the velocity of the local interstellar medium (ISM). Some stars also present transient variable events or absorptions extended towards red wavelengths (red wings). These are the first detections of such Ca II features in 7 out of the 15 observed stars. Although an ISM origin cannot categorically be excluded, the results suggest that the stable and variable absorptions arise from relatively hot gas located in the CS close-in environment of the stars. This hot gas is detected in at least ~80%, of edge-on cold-gas-bearing debris discs, while in only ~10% of the discs seen close to face-on. We interpret this result as a geometrical effect, and suggest that the non-detection of hot gas absorptions in some face-on systems is due to the disc inclination and likely not to the absence of the hot-gas component. This gas is likely released in physical processes related in some way to the evaporation of exocomets, evaporation of dust grains, or grain-grain collisions close to the central star.
Context. DZ Cha is a weak-lined T Tauri star (WTTS) surrounded by a bright protoplanetary disc with evidence of inner disc clearing. Its narrow Hα line and infrared spectral energy distribution ...suggest that DZ Cha may be a photoevaporating disc. Aims. We aim to analyse the DZ Cha star + disc system to identify the mechanism driving the evolution of this object. Methods. We have analysed three epochs of high resolution optical spectroscopy, photometry from the UV up to the sub-mm regime, infrared spectroscopy, and J-band imaging polarimetry observations of DZ Cha. Results. Combining our analysis with previous studies we find no signatures of accretion in the Hα line profile in nine epochs covering a time baseline of ~20 yr. The optical spectra are dominated by chromospheric emission lines, but they also show emission from the forbidden lines SII 4068 and OI 6300Å that indicate a disc outflow. The polarized images reveal a dust depleted cavity of ~7 au in radius and two spiral-like features, and we derive a disc dust mass limit of Mdust< 3 MEarth from the sub-mm photometry. No stellar (M⋆> 80 MJup) companions are detected down to 0.̋07 (~8 au, projected). Conclusions. The negligible accretion rate, small cavity, and forbidden line emission strongly suggests that DZ Cha is currently at the initial stages of disc clearing by photoevaporation. At this point the inner disc has drained and the inner wall of the truncated outer disc is directly exposed to the stellar radiation. We argue that other mechanisms like planet formation or binarity cannot explain the observed properties of DZ Cha. The scarcity of objects like this one is in line with the dispersal timescale (≲105 yr) predicted by this theory. DZ Cha is therefore an ideal target to study the initial stages of photoevaporation.
Context.
We previously suggested that variable red- and blueshifted absorption features observed in the Ca
II
K line towards the A-type shell star
ϕ
Leo are likely due to solid, comet-like bodies in ...the circumstellar (CS) environment.
Aims.
Our aim is to expand our observational study of
ϕ
Leo to other characteristic spectral lines of A-type photospheres as well as to lines arising in their CS shells.
Methods.
We obtained more than 500 high-resolution optical spectra collected at different telescopes over 37 nights in several observing runs from December 2015 to January 2019. Consecutive time-series spectra were taken, covering intervals of up to ~9 h on some nights. We analysed some photospheric lines, in particular Ca
I
4226 Å and Mg
II
4481 Å, as well as the circumstellar shell lines Ca
II
H and K, the Ca
II
IR triplet, Fe
II
4924, 5018, and 5169 Å, Ti
II
3685, 3759, and 3761 Å, and the Balmer lines H
α
and H
β
.
Results.
Our observational study reveals that
ϕ
Leo is a variable
δ
Scuti star whose spectra show remarkable dumps and bumps superimposed on the photospheric line profiles, which vary in strength and sharpness, propagate from blue- to more redshifted radial velocities, and persist for a few hours. Similarly to other
δ
Scuti stars, these features are likely produced by non-radial pulsations. At the same time, all shell lines present emission at ~3 km s
−1
centred at the core of the CS features, and two variable absorption minima at both sides of the emission; those absorption minima occur at almost the same velocity for each line, that is, no apparent dynamical evolution is observed. The variations observed in the Ca
II
H and K, Fe
II
, and Ti
II
lines occur on a range of timescales from minutes to days and between observing runs, but without any clear correlation or recognisable temporal pattern among the different lines. In the case of H
α
, the CS contribution is also variable in just one of the observing runs.
Conclusions.
We suggest that
ϕ
Leo is a rapidly rotating
δ
Scuti star surrounded by a variable, (nearly) edge-on CS disk possibly re-supplied by the
δ
Scuti pulsations. The behaviour of the CS shell lines is reminiscent of that of rapidly rotating Be shell stars with an edge-on CS disk, and is clear evidence that the variations observed in the CS features of
ϕ
Leo are highly unlikely to be produced by exocomets. In addition, the observational results presented in this work, together with some recent results concerning the shell star HR 10, highlight the need for critical revision of the Ca
II
K features, which have been attributed to exocomets in other shell stars.
Transitional discs are protoplanetary discs with opacity gaps/cavities in their dust distribution, a feature that may be linked to planet formation. We perform Bayesian modelling of the three ...transitional discs SZ Cha, CS Cha, and T25 including photometry from the Herschel Space Observatory to quantify the improvements added by these new data. We find disc dust masses between 2 × 10−5 and 4 × 10−4 M⊙ and gap radii in the range of 7–18 au, with uncertainties of ∼ one order of magnitude and ∼4 au, respectively. Our results show that adding Herschel data can significantly improve these estimates with respect to mid-infrared data alone, which have roughly twice as large uncertainties on both disc mass and gap radius. We also find weak evidence for different density profiles with respect to full discs. These results open exciting new possibilities to study the distribution of disc masses for large samples of discs.
We announce the discovery of K2-139 b (EPIC 218916923 b), a transiting warm-Jupiter (Teq = 547 ± 25 K) on a 29-d orbit around an active (log R'_HK = -4.46 ± 0.06) K0V star in K2 Campaign 7. We derive ...the system's parameters by combining the K2 photometry with ground-based follow-up observations. With a mass of 0.387_-0.075^+0.083 M_J and radius of 0.808_-0.033^+0.034 R_J, K2-139 b is one of the transiting warm Jupiters with the lowest mass known to date. The planetary mean density of 0.91_-0.20^+0.24 g/cm^3 can be explained with a core of ~50 M⊕. Given the brightness of the host star (V = 11.653 mag), the relatively short transit duration (~5 h), and the expected amplitude of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect (~25m/s), K2-139 is an ideal target to measure the spin-orbit angle of a planetary system hosting a warm Jupiter.
Context. This paper is framed within a large project devoted to studying the presence of circumstellar material around main sequence stars, and looking for exocometary events. The work concentrates ...on HR 10 (A2 IV/V), known for its conspicuous variability in the circumstellar narrow absorption features of Ca II K and other lines, so far interpreted as β Pic-like phenomena, within the falling evaporating body scenario. Aims. The main goal of this paper is to carry out a thorough study of HR 10 to find the origin of the observed variability, determine the nature of the star, its absolute parameters, and evolutionary status. Methods. Interferometric near-infrared (NIR) observations, multi-epoch high-resolution optical spectra spanning a time baseline of more than 32 yr, and optical and NIR photometry, together with theoretical modelling, were used to tackle the above objectives. Results. Our results reveal that HR 10 is a binary. The narrow circumstellar absorption features superimposed on the photospheric Ca II K lines – and lines of other species – can be decomposed into two or more components, the two deep ones tracing the radial velocity of the individual stars, which implies that their origin cannot be ascribed to transient exocometary events, their variability being fully explained by the binarity of the object. There does not appear to be transient events associated with potential exocomets. Each individual star holds its own circumstellar shell and there are no traces of a circumbinary envelope. Finally, the combined use of the interferometric and radial velocity data leads to a complete spectrometric and orbital solution for the binary, the main parameters being: an orbital period of 747.6 days, eccentricities of the orbits around the centre of mass 0.25 (HR 10-A), 0.21 (HR 10-B) and a mass ratio of q = MB∕MA = 0.72–0.84. The stars are slightly off the main sequence, the binary being ~530 Myr old.
Uncovering the ultimate planet impostor Lillo-Box, J.; Ribas, Á.; Montesinos, B. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
09/2021, Letnik:
653
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context.
Exoplanet searches through space-based photometric time series have shown to be very efficient in recent years. However, follow-up efforts on the detected planet candidates have been ...demonstrated to be critical to uncover the true nature of the transiting objects.
Aims.
In this paper we show a detailed analysis of one of those false positives hidden as planetary signals. In this case, the candidate KOI-3886.01 showed clear evidence of a planetary nature from various techniques. Indeed, the properties of the fake planet set it among the most interesting and promising for the study of planetary evolution as the star leaves the main sequence.
Methods.
To unveil the true nature of this system, we present a complete set of observational techniques including high-spatial resolution imaging, high-precision photometric time series (showing eclipses, phase curve variations, and asteroseismology signals), high-resolution spectroscopy, and derived radial velocities to unveil the true nature of this planet candidate.
Results.
We find that KOI-3886.01 is an interesting false positive case: a hierarchical triple system composed by a ~K2 III giant star (KOI-3886 A) accompanied by a close-in eclipsing binary formed by a subgiant ~G4 IV star (KOI-3886 B) and a brown dwarf (KOI-3886 C). In particular, KOI-3886 C is one of the most irradiated brown dwarfs known to date, showing the largest radius in this substellar regime. It is also the first eclipsing brown dwarf known around an evolved star.
Conclusions.
In this paper we highlight the relevance of complete sets of follow-up observations to extrasolar planets detected by the transit technique using large-pixel photometers such as
Kepler
and TESS and, in the future, PLATO. In particular, multi-color high-spatial resolution imaging was the first hint toward ruling out the planet scenario in this system.
Context. Exoplanet searches through space-based photometric time series have shown to be very efficient in recent years. However, follow-up efforts on the detected planet candidates have been ...demonstrated to be critical to uncover the true nature of the transiting objects. Aims. In this paper we show a detailed analysis of one of those false positives hidden as planetary signals. In this case, the candidate KOI-3886.01 showed clear evidence of a planetary nature from various techniques. Indeed, the properties of the fake planet set it among the most interesting and promising for the study of planetary evolution as the star leaves the main sequence. Methods. To unveil the true nature of this system, we present a complete set of observational techniques including high-spatial resolution imaging, high-precision photometric time series (showing eclipses, phase curve variations, and asteroseismology signals), high-resolution spectroscopy, and derived radial velocities to unveil the true nature of this planet candidate. Results. We find that KOI-3886.01 is an interesting false positive case: a hierarchical triple system composed by a ~K2 III giant star (KOI-3886 A) accompanied by a close-in eclipsing binary formed by a subgiant ~G4 IV star (KOI-3886 B) and a brown dwarf (KOI-3886 C). In particular, KOI-3886 C is one of the most irradiated brown dwarfs known to date, showing the largest radius in this substellar regime. It is also the first eclipsing brown dwarf known around an evolved star. Conclusions. In this paper we highlight the relevance of complete sets of follow-up observations to extrasolar planets detected by the transit technique using large-pixel photometers such as Kepler and TESS and, in the future, PLATO. In particular, multi-color high-spatial resolution imaging was the first hint toward ruling out the planet scenario in this system.
PDF
