Context. We present radial-velocity measurements of eight stars observed with the HARPS Echelle spectrograph mounted on the 3.6-m telescope in La Silla (ESO, Chile). Data span more than ten years and ...highlight the long-term stability of the instrument. Aims. We search for potential planets orbiting HD 20003, HD 20781, HD 21693, HD 31527, HD 45184, HD 51608, HD 134060 and HD 136352 to increase the number of known planetary systems and thus better constrain exoplanet statistics. Methods. After a preliminary phase looking for signals using generalized Lomb-Scargle periodograms, we perform a careful analysis of all signals to separate bona-fide planets from signals induced by stellar activity and instrumental systematics. We finally secure the detection of all planets using the efficient MCMC available on the Data and Analysis Center for Exoplanets (DACE web-platform), using model comparison whenever necessary. Results. In total, we report the detection of twenty new super-Earth to Neptune-mass planets, with minimum masses ranging from 2 to 30 MEarth and periods ranging from 3 to 1300 days, in multiple systems with two to four planets. Adding CORALIE and HARPS measurements of HD20782 to the already published data, we also improve the characterization of the extremely eccentric Jupiter orbiting this visual companion of HD 20781.
The vast diversity of planetary systems detected to date is defying our capability of understanding their formation and evolution. Well-defined volume -limited surveys are the best tool at our ...disposal to tackle the problem, via the acquisition of robust statistics of the orbital elements. We are using the HARPS spectrograph to conduct our survey of approx = 850 nearby solar-type stars, and in the course of the past nine years we have monitored the radial velocity of HD 103774, HD 109271, and BD-061339. In this work we present the detection of five planets orbiting these stars, with msin (l) between 0.6 and 7 Neptune masses, four of which are in two multiple systems, comprising one super-Earth and one planet within the habitable zone of a late-type dwarf. Although for strategic reasons we chose efficiency over precision in this survey, we have the capability to detect planets down to the Neptune and super-Earth mass range as well as multiple systems, provided that enough data points are made available.
Stars in young nearby associations are the only targets that allow giant planet searches in the near future, at all separations by coupling indirect techniques, such as radial velocity (RV) and deep ...imaging. These stars are first priority targets for the forth- coming planet imagers on eight- to ten-metre class telescopes. Young stars rotate more rapidly and are more active than their older counterparts. Both effects can limit the ability to detect planets using RV. We wish to explore the planet detection abilities of a representative sample of stars in close and young associations with RY data and to explore the complementarity between this technique and direct imaging. The RV technique allows the detection of planets lighter than Jupiter reaching a few Neptune masses around young stars aged typically 30 Myr or more. Detection limits increase at younger ages, but (sub-)Jupiter mass planets are still detectable. In the next few years, using complementary techniques will allow a full exploration of the Jupiter-mass planets' content of many of these stars.
Aims.
We study the 2D spectral line profile of the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), measuring its variation with position across the detector and with changing line intensity. ...The characterization of the line profile and its variations are important for achieving the precision of the wavelength scales of 10
−10
or 3.0 cm s
−1
necessary to detect Earth-twins in the habitable zone around solar-like stars.
Methods.
We used a laser frequency comb (LFC) with unresolved and unblended lines to probe the instrument line profile. We injected the LFC light – attenuated by various neutral density filters – into both the object and the reference fibres of HARPS, and we studied the variations of the line profiles with the line intensities. We applied moment analysis to measure the line positions, widths, and skewness as well as to characterize the line profile distortions induced by the spectrograph and detectors. Based on this, we established a model to correct for point spread function distortions by tracking the beam profiles in both fibres.
Results.
We demonstrate that the line profile varies with the position on the detector and as a function of line intensities. This is consistent with a charge transfer inefficiency effect on the HARPS detector. The estimate of the line position depends critically on the line profile, and therefore a change in the line amplitude effectively changes the measured position of the lines, affecting the stability of the wavelength scale of the instrument. We deduce and apply the correcting functions to re-calibrate and mitigate this effect, reducing it to a level consistent with photon noise.
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.
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.
Context.
The detection and characterization of exoplanet atmospheres is currently one of the main drivers pushing the development of new observing facilities. In this context, high-resolution ...spectrographs are proving their potential and showing that high-resolution spectroscopy will be paramount in this field.
Aims.
We aim to make use of ESPRESSO high-resolution spectra, which cover two transits of HD 209458b, to probe the broadband transmission optical spectrum of the planet.
Methods.
We applied the chromatic Rossiter–McLaughin method to derive the transmission spectrum of HD 209458b. We compared the results with previous HST observations and with synthetic spectra.
Results.
We recover a transmission spectrum of HD 209458b similar to the one obtained with HST data. The models suggest that the observed signal can be explained by only Na, only TiO, or both Na and TiO, even though none is fully capable of explaining our observed transmission spectrum. Extra absorbers may be needed to explain the full dataset, though modeling approximations and observational errors can also be responsible for the observed mismatch.
Conclusions.
Using the chromatic Rossiter–McLaughlin technique, ESPRESSO is able to provide broadband transmission spectra of exoplanets from the ground, in conjunction with space-based facilities, opening good perspectives for similar studies of other planets.
In this paper, we present our HARPS radial-velocity data for eight low-activity solar-type stars belonging to the HARPS volume-limited sample: HD6718, HD8535, HD28254, HD290327, HD43197, HD44219, ...HD148156, and HD156411. Keplerian fits to these data reveal the presence of low-mass companions around these targets. With minimum masses ranging from 0.58 to 2.54 MJup, these companions are in the planetary mass domain. The orbital periods of these planets range from slightly less than one to almost seven years. The eight orbits presented in this paper exhibit a wide variety of eccentricities: from 0.08 to above 0.8.
Context.
The ESPRESSO spectrograph is a new powerful tool developed to detect and characterize extrasolar planets. Its design allows an unprecedented radial velocity precision (down to a few tens of ...cm s
−1
) and long-term thermomechanical stability.
Aims.
We present the first stand-alone detection of an extrasolar planet by blind radial velocity search using ESPRESSO; our aim is to show the power of the instrument in characterizing planetary signals at different periodicities in long observing time spans.
Methods.
We used 41 ESPRESSO measurements of HD 22496 obtained within a time span of 895 days with a median photon noise of 18 cm s
−1
. A radial velocity analysis was performed to test the presence of planets in the system and to account for the stellar activity of this K5-K7 main-sequence star. For benchmarking and comparison, we attempted the detection with 43 archive HARPS measurements and in this work we compare the results yielded by the two datasets. We also used four TESS sectors to search for transits.
Results.
We find radial velocity variations compatible with a close-in planet with an orbital period of
P
= 5.09071 ± 0.00026 days when simultaneously accounting for the effects of stellar activity on longer timescales (
P
rot
= 34.99
−0.53
+0.58
days). We characterize the physical and orbital properties of the planet and find a minimum mass of 5.57
−0.68
+0.73
M
⊕
, right in the dichotomic regime between rocky and gaseous planets. Although not transiting according to TESS data, if aligned with the stellar spin axis, the absolute mass of the planet must be below 16
M
⊕
. We find no significant evidence for additional signals in the data with semi-amplitudes above 56 cm s
−1
at 95% confidence.
Conclusions.
With a modest set of radial velocity measurements, ESPRESSO is capable of detecting and characterizing low-mass planets and constraining the presence of planets in the habitable zone of K dwarfs down to the rocky-mass regime.
Multiband photometric transit observations or low-resolution spectroscopy (spectro-photometry) are normally used to retrieve the broadband transmission spectra of transiting exoplanets in order to ...assess the chemical composition of their atmospheres. In this paper we present an alternative approach for recovering the broadband transmission spectra using chromatic Doppler tomography based on physical modeling through the
SOAP
tool: CHOCOLATE (CHrOmatiC line prOfiLe tomogrAphy TEchnique). To validate the method and examine its performance, we use observational data recently obtained with the ESPRESSO instrument to retrieve the transmission spectra of the archetypal hot Jupiter HD 209458b. Our findings indicate that the recovered transmission spectrum is in good agreement with the results presented in previous studies, which used different methodologies to extract the spectrum, achieving similar precision. We explored several atmospheric models and inferred from spectral retrieval that a model containing H
2
O and NH
3
is the preferred scenario. The CHOCOLATE methodology is particularly interesting for future studies of exoplanets around young and active stars or moderate to fast rotating stars, considering
SOAP
’s ability to model stellar active regions and the fact that the rotational broadening of spectral lines favors its application. Furthermore, CHOCOLATE will allow the broad transmission spectrum of a planet to be retrieved using high-S/N, high-resolution spectroscopy with the next generation of extremely large telescopes, where low-resolution spectroscopy will not always be accessible.
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