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  • Four Sub-Saturns with Dissi...
    Petigura, Erik A.; Sinukoff, Evan; Lopez, Eric D.; Crossfield, Ian J. M.; Howard, Andrew W.; Brewer, John M.; Fulton, Benjamin J.; Isaacson, Howard T.; Ciardi, David R.; Howell, Steve B.; Everett, Mark E.; Horch, Elliott P.; Hirsch, Lea A.; Weiss, Lauren M.; Schlieder, Joshua E.

    The Astronomical journal, 04/2017, Letnik: 153, Številka: 4
    Journal Article

    We present results from a Keck/HIRES radial velocity campaign to study four sub-Saturn-sized planets, K2-27b, K2-32b, K2-39b, and K2-108b, with the goal of understanding their masses, orbits, and heavy-element enrichment. The planets have similar sizes ( = 4.5-5.5 ), but have dissimilar masses ( = 16-60 ), implying a diversity in their core and envelope masses. K2-32b is the least massive ( ) and orbits in close proximity to two sub-Neptunes near a 3:2:1 period commensurability. K2-27b and K2-39b are significantly more massive at and , respectively, and show no signs of additional planets. K2-108b is the most massive at , implying a large reservoir of heavy elements of about 50 . Sub-Saturns as a population have a large diversity in planet mass at a given size. They exhibit remarkably little correlation between mass and size; sub-Saturns range from 6-60 , regardless of size. We find a strong correlation between planet mass and host star metallicity, suggesting that metal-rich disks form more massive planet cores. The most massive sub-Saturns tend to lack detected companions and have moderately eccentric orbits, perhaps as a result of a previous epoch of dynamical instability. Finally, we observe only a weak correlation between the planet envelope fraction and present-day equilibrium temperature, suggesting that photo-evaporation does not play a dominant role in determining the amount of gas sub-Saturns accrete from their protoplanetary disks.