Context.
Despite swift progress in the characterisation of exoplanet atmospheres in composition and structure, the study of atmospheric dynamics has not progressed at the same speed. While ...theoretical models have been developed to describe the lower layers of the atmosphere, and independently, the exosphere, little is known about the intermediate layers up to the thermosphere.
Aims.
We aim to provide a clearer picture of atmospheric dynamics for the class of ultra-hot Jupiters, which are highly irradiated gas giants, based on the example of WASP-76 b.
Methods.
We jointly analysed two datasets that were obtained with the HARPS and ESPRESSO spectrographs to interpret the resolved planetary sodium doublet. We then applied the MERC code, which retrieves wind patterns, speeds, and temperature profiles on the line shape of the sodium doublet. An updated version of MERC, with added planetary rotation, also provides the possibility of modelling the latitude dependence of the wind patterns.
Results.
We retrieve the highest Bayesian evidence for an isothermal atmosphere, interpreted as a mean temperature of 3389 ± 227 K, a uniform day- to nightside wind of 5.5
−2.0
+1.4
km s
−1
in the lower atmosphere with a vertical wind in the upper atmosphere of 22.7
−4.1
+4.9
km s
−1
, switching atmospheric wind patterns at 10
−3
bar above the reference surface pressure (10 bar).
Conclusions.
Our results for WASP-76 b are compatible with previous studies of the lower atmospheric dynamics of WASP-76 b and other ultra-hot Jupiters. They highlight the need for vertical winds in the intermediate atmosphere above the layers probed by global circulation model studies to explain the line broadening of the sodium doublet in this planet. This work demonstrates the capability of exploiting the resolved spectral line shapes to observationally constrain possible wind patterns in exoplanet atmospheres. This is an invaluable input to more sophisticated 3D atmospheric models in the future.
State-of-the-art 19th century spectroscopy led to the discovery of quantum mechanics, and 20th century spectroscopy led to the confirmation of quantum electrodynamics. State-of-the-art 21st century ...astrophysical spectrographs, especially ANDES at ESO’s ELT, have another opportunity to play a key role in the search for, and characterization of, the new physics which is known to be out there, waiting to be discovered. We rely on detailed simulations and forecast techniques to discuss four important examples of this point: big bang nucleosynthesis, the evolution of the cosmic microwave background temperature, tests of the universality of physical laws, and a real-time model-independent mapping of the expansion history of the universe (also known as the redshift drift). The last two are among the flagship science drivers for the ELT. We also highlight what is required for the ESO community to be able to play a meaningful role in 2030s fundamental cosmology and show that, even if ANDES only provides null results, such ‘minimum guaranteed science’ will be in the form of constraints on key cosmological paradigms: these are independent from, and can be competitive with, those obtained from traditional cosmological probes.
We present FEROS-Lick/SDSS, an empirical data base of Lick/SDSS spectral indices of FGK stars to be used in population synthesis projects for discriminating different stellar populations within the ...integrated light of galaxies and globular clusters. From about 2500 FEROS stellar spectra obtained from the European Southern Observatory Science Archive Facility, we computed line-strength indices for 1085 non-supergiant stars with atmospheric parameter estimates from the AMBRE project. Two samples of 312 dwarfs and of 83 subgiants with solar chemical composition and no significant α-element abundance enhancement are used to compare their observational indices with the predictions of the Lick/SDSS library of synthetic indices. In general, the synthetic library reproduces very well the behaviour of observational indices as a function of temperature, but in the case of low-temperature (T
eff ≲ 5000 K) dwarfs; low-temperature subgiants are not numerous enough to derive any conclusion. Several possible causes of the disagreement are discussed and promising theoretical improvements are presented.
Aims. One of the main scientific drivers for ESPRESSO, Échelle SPectrograph, is the detection and characterization of Earth-class exoplanets. With this goal in mind, the ESPRESSO guaranteed time ...observations (GTO) Catalog identifies the best target stars for a blind search for the radial velocity (RV) signals caused by Earth-class exoplanets. Methods. Using the most complete stellar catalogs available, we screened for the most suitable G, K, and M dwarf stars for the detection of Earth-class exoplanets with ESPRESSO. For most of the stars, we then gathered high-resolution spectra from new observations or from archival data. We used these spectra to spectroscopically investigate the existence of any stellar binaries, both bound or background stars. We derived the activity level using chromospheric activity indexes using log (R′HK) $(R' _{\textrm{HK}})$ (RHK′) , as well as the projected rotational velocity v sin i. For the cases where planet companions are already known, we also looked at the possibility that additional planets may exist in the host’s habitable zone using dynamical arguments. Results. We estimated the spectroscopic contamination level, v sin i, activity, stellar parameters and chemical abundances for 249 of the most promising targets. Using these data, we selected 45 stars that match our criteria for detectability of a planet like Earth. The stars presented and discussed in this paper constitute the ESPRESSO GTO catalog for the RV blind search for Earth-class planets. They can also be used for any other work requiring a detailed spectroscopic characterization of stars in the solar neighborhood.
Using the adaptive optics system of the Large Binocular Telescope, we have obtained near-infrared camera PISCES images of the inner shell of the nebula around the luminous blue variable star P Cygni ...in the Fe ii emission line at 1.6435 μm. We have combined the images in order to cover a field of view of about 20 arcsec around P Cygni, thus providing the high-resolution (0.08 arcsec) two-dimensional spatial distribution of the inner shell of the P Cygni nebula in Fe ii. We have identified several nebular emission regions that are characterized by a signal-to-noise ratio > 3. A comparison of our results with those available in the literature shows full consistency with the findings of Smith & Hartigan, which are based on radial velocity measurements, and relatively good agreement with the extension of emission nebula in N ii λ6584 found by Barlow et al. We have clearly also detected extended emission inside the radial distance R = 7.8 arcsec and outside R = 9.7 arcsec, which are the nebular boundaries proposed by Smith & Hartigan. New complementary spectroscopic observations are planned in order to measure radial velocities and to derive the three-dimensional distribution of the P Cygni nebula.
Context.
Theoretical results showed the possibility that neutron capture elements were produced in the early Universe by two different sources: a frequent
s
-process source hosted by rotating massive ...stars, and a rare
r
-process source hosted most likely by neutron star mergers. The two sources produce barium with different isotopic compositions.
Aims.
We aim to investigate the lines of barium in two halo stars, HD 6268 and HD 4306. The spectra present an exquisite quality, both in terms of resolution (
R
> 100 000) and signal-to-noise (~400). Due to hyperfine splitting (hfs) effects, barium lines are expected to show slightly different profiles depending on the barium isotopic fraction.
Methods.
We applied a standard local thermodynamic equilibrium synthesis of the barium lines. We compared the synthetic results assuming an
s
-process isotopic pattern or an
r
-process isotopic pattern for the two barium lines for each star that exhibited hfs. We also applied a methodology, less dependent on the accuracy of the theoretical Ba hfs structure, that transforms the lines of HD 4306 into those we would observe if its atmospheric parameter values (i.e.
T
eff
, log
g
, micro- and macro-turbulence,
V
sin
i
, and Ba abundance) were the same as those of HD 6268.
Results.
With both methods, our results show that the barium lines with hfs effects of HD 4306 are in agreement with an
s
-process composition and the lines in HD 6268 have a different profile, which is most likely linked to the presence of an
r
-process isotopic pattern.
Conclusions.
Two lines of barium of HD 6268 and HD 4306 seem to confirm the theoretical expectation that both
r
-process events and also
s
-process contribution by rotating massive stars have polluted the ancient halo of our Galaxy.
Context. The known mega metal-poor (MMP) and hyper metal-poor (HMP) stars, with Fe/H < −6.0 and < −5.0, respectively, likely belong to the CEMP-no class, namely, carbon-enhanced stars with little or ...no second peak neutron-capture elements. They are likely second-generation stars, and the few elements measurable in their atmospheres are used to infer the properties of a single or very few progenitors. Aims. The high carbon abundance in the CEMP-no stars offers a unique opportunity to measure the carbon isotopic ratio, which directly indicates the presence of mixing between the He- and H-burning layers either within the star or in the progenitor(s). By means of high-resolution spectra acquired with the ESPRESSO spectrograph at the VLT, we aim to derive values for the 12C/13C ratio at the lowest metallicities. Methods. We used a spectral synthesis technique based on the SYNTHE code and on ATLAS models within a Markov chain Monte Carlo methodology to derive 12C/13C in the stellar atmospheres of four of the most metal-poor stars known: the MMP giant SMSS J0313–6708 (Fe/H < −7.1), the HMP dwarf HE 1327–2326 (Fe/H = −5.8), the HMP giant SDSS J1313–0019 (Fe/H = −5.0), and the ultra metal-poor subgiant HE0233 -0343 (Fe/H = −4.7). We also revised a previous value for the MMP giant SMSS J1605–1443 (Fe/H = −6.2). Results. In four stars we derive an isotopic value while for HE 1327–2326 we provide a lower limit. All measurements are in the range 39 < 12C/13C < 100, showing that the He- and H-burning layers underwent partial mixing either in the stars or, more likely, in their progenitors. This provides evidence of a primary production of 13C at the dawn of chemical evolution. CEMP-no dwarf stars with slightly higher metallicities show lower isotopic values, <30 and even approaching the CNO cycle equilibrium value. Thus, extant data suggest the presence of a discontinuity in the 12C/13C ratio at around Fe/H ≈ − 4, which could mark a real difference between the progenitor pollution captured by stars with different metallicities. We also note that some MMP and HMP stars with high 12C/13C show low 7Li values, providing an indication that mixing in the CEMP-no progenitors is not responsible for the observed Li depletion.
Context.
Small planets located at the lower mode of the bimodal radius distribution are generally assumed to be composed of iron and silicates in a proportion similar to that of the Earth. However, ...recent discoveries are revealing a new group of low-density planets that are inconsistent with that description.
Aims.
We intend to confirm and characterize the TESS planet candidate TOI-244.01, which orbits the bright (
K
= 7.97 mag), nearby (
d
= 22 pc), and early-type (M2.5 V) M-dwarf star GJ 1018 with an orbital period of 7.4 days.
Methods.
We used Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to model 57 precise radial velocity measurements acquired by the ESPRESSO spectrograph together with TESS photometry and complementary HARPS data. Our model includes a planetary component and Gaussian processes aimed at modeling the correlated stellar and instrumental noise.
Results.
We find TOI-244 b to be a super-Earth with a radius of
R
p
= 1.52 ± 0.12
R
⊕
and a mass of
M
p
= 2.68 ± 0.30
M
⊕
. These values correspond to a density of
ρ
= 4.2 ± 1.1 g cm
−3
, which is below what would be expected for an Earth-like composition. We find that atmospheric loss processes may have been efficient to remove a potential primordial hydrogen envelope, but high mean molecular weight volatiles such as water could have been retained. Our internal structure modeling suggests that TOI-244 b has a 479
−96
+128
km thick hydrosphere over a 1.17 ± 0.09
R
⊕
solid structure composed of a Fe-rich core and a silicate-dominated mantle compatible with that of the Earth. On a population level, we find two tentative trends in the density-metallicity and density-insolation parameter space for the low-density super-Earths, which may hint at their composition.
Conclusions.
With a 8% precision in radius and 12% precision in mass, TOI-244 b is among the most precisely characterized super-Earths, which, together with the likely presence of an extended hydrosphere, makes it a key target for atmospheric observations.
GJ 9827 is a bright, nearby K7V star orbited by two super-Earths and one mini-Neptune on close-in orbits. The system was first discovered using K2 data and then further characterized by other ...spectroscopic and photometric instruments. Previous literature studies provide several mass measurements for the three planets, however, with large variations and uncertainties. To better constrain the planetary masses, we added high-precision radial velocity measurements from ESPRESSO to published datasets from HARPS, HARPS-N, and HIRES and we performed a Gaussian process analysis combining radial velocity and photometric datasets from K2 and TESS. This method allowed us to model the stellar activity signal and derive precise planetary parameters. We determined planetary masses of M b = 4.28 −0.33 +0.35 M ⊕ , M c = 1.86 −0.39 +0.37 M ⊕ , and M d = 3.02 −0.57 +0.58 M ⊕ , and orbital periods of 1.208974 ± 0.000001 days for planet b, 3.648103 −0.000010 +0.000013 days for planet c, and 6.201812 ± 0.000009 days for planet d. We compared our results to literature values and found that our derived uncertainties for the planetary mass, period, and radial velocity amplitude are smaller than the previously determined uncertainties. We modeled the interior composition of the three planets using the machine-learning-based tool ExoMDN and conclude that GJ 9827 b and c have an Earth-like composition, whereas GJ 9827 d has an hydrogen envelope, which, together with its density, places it in the mini-Neptune regime.
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