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At least 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

ASYMMETRIC FUNDAMENTAL BAND CO LINES AS A SIGN OF AN EMBEDDED GIANT PLANET

We investigate the formation of double-peaked asymmetric line profiles of CO in the fundamental band spectra emitted by young (1-5 Myr) protoplanetary disks hosted by a 0.5-2 M {sub ☉} star. Distortions of the line profiles can be caused by the gravitational perturbation of an embedded giant planet with q = 4.7 × 10{sup –3} stellar-to-planet mass ratio. Locally isothermal, two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations show that the disk becomes globally eccentric inside the planetary orbit with stationary ∼0.2-0.25 average eccentricity after ∼2000 orbital periods. For orbital distances 1-10 AU, the disk eccentricity is peaked inside the region where the fundamental band of CO is thermally excited. Hence, these lines become sensitive indicators of the embedded planet via their asymmetries (both in flux and wavelength). We find that the line shape distortions (e.g., distance, central dip, asymmetry, and positions of peaks) of a given transition depend on the excitation energy (i.e., on the rotational quantum number J). The magnitude of line asymmetry is increasing/decreasing with J if the planet orbits inside/outside the CO excitation zone (R {sub CO} ≤ 3, 5, and 7 AU for a 0.5, 1, and 2 M {sub ☉} star, respectively), thus one can constrain the orbital distance of a giant planet by determining the slope of the peak asymmetry-J profile. We conclude that the presented spectroscopic phenomenon can be used to test the predictions of planet formation theories by pushing the age limits for detecting the youngest planetary systems.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

ZODIACAL EXOPLANETS IN TIME (ZEIT). III. A SHORT-PERIOD PLANET ORBITING A PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE STAR IN THE UPPER SCORPIUS OB ASSOCIATION

We confirm and characterize a close-in (P{sub orb} = 5.425 days), super-Neptune sized (5.04{sub −0.37}{sup +0.34} R{sub ⊕}) planet transiting K2-33 (2MASS J16101473-1919095), a late-type (M3) pre-main-sequence (11 Myr old) star in the Upper Scorpius subgroup of the Scorpius–Centaurus OB association. The host star has the kinematics of a member of the Upper Scorpius OB association, and its spectrum contains lithium absorption, an unambiguous sign of youth (<20 Myr) in late-type dwarfs. We combine photometry from K2 and the ground-based MEarth project to refine the planet’s properties and constrain the host star’s density. We determine K2-33’s bolometric flux and effective temperature from moderate-resolution spectra. By utilizing isochrones that include the effects of magnetic fields, we derive a precise radius (6%–7%) and mass (16%) for the host star, and a stellar age consistent with the established value for Upper Scorpius. Follow-up high-resolution imaging and Doppler spectroscopy confirm that the transiting object is not a stellar companion or a background eclipsing binary blended with the target. The shape of the transit, the constancy of the transit depth and periodicity over 1.5 yr, and the independence with wavelength rule out stellar variability or a dust cloud or debris disk partially occulting the star as the source of the signal; we conclude that it must instead be planetary in origin. The existence of K2-33b suggests that close-in planets can form in situ or migrate within ∼10 Myr, e.g., via interactions with a disk, and that long-timescale dynamical migration such as by Lidov–Kozai or planet–planet scattering is not responsible for all short-period planets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Bringing "The Moth" to light: A planet-sculpting scenario for the HD 61005 debris disk

Here, the HD 61005 debris disk ("The Moth") stands out from the growing collection of spatially resolved circumstellar disks by virtue of its unusual swept-back morphology, brightness asymmetries, and dust ring offset. Despite several suggestions for the physical mechanisms creating these features, no definitive answer has been found. In this work, we demonstrate the plausibility of a scenario in which the disk material is shaped dynamically by an eccentric, inclined planet. We present new Keck NIRC2 scattered-light angular differential imaging of the disk at 1.2–2.3 μm that further constrains its outer morphology (projected separations of 27–135 au). We also present complementary Gemini Planet Imager 1.6 μm total intensity and polarized light detections that probe down to projected separations less than 10 au. To test our planet-sculpting hypothesis, we employed secular perturbation theory to construct parent body and dust distributions that informed scattered-light models. We found that this method produced models with morphological and photometric features similar to those seen in the data, supporting the premise of a planet-perturbed disk. Briefly, our results indicate a disk parent body population with a semimajor axis of 40–52 au and an interior planet with an eccentricity of at least 0.2. Many permutations of planet mass and semimajor axis are allowed, ranging from an Earth mass at 35 au to a Jupiter mass at 5 au.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

SOLAR OBLIQUITY INDUCED BY PLANET NINE

The six-degree obliquity of the Sun suggests that either an asymmetry was present in the solar system’s formation environment, or an external torque has misaligned the angular momentum vectors of the Sun and the planets. However, the exact origin of this obliquity remains an open question. Batygin and Brown have recently shown that the physical alignment of distant Kuiper Belt orbits can be explained by a 5--20 m{sub ⊕} planet on a distant, eccentric, and inclined orbit, with an approximate perihelion distance of ∼250 au. Using an analytic model for secular interactions between Planet Nine and the remaining giant planets, here, we show that a planet with similar parameters can naturally generate the observed obliquity as well as the specific pole position of the Sun’s spin axis, from a nearly aligned initial state. Thus, Planet Nine offers a testable explanation for the otherwise mysterious spin–orbit misalignment of the solar system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

THE ORBIT AND MASS OF THE THIRD PLANET IN THE KEPLER-56 SYSTEM

While the vast majority of multiple-planet systems have orbital angular momentum axes that align with the spin axis of their host star, Kepler-56 is an exception: its two transiting planets are coplanar yet misaligned by at least 40° with respect to the rotation axis of their host star. Additional follow-up observations of Kepler-56 suggest the presence of a massive, non-transiting companion that may help explain this misalignment. We model the transit data along with Keck/HIRES and HARPS-N radial velocity data to update the masses of the two transiting planets and infer the physical properties of the third, non-transiting planet. We employ a Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampler to calculate the best-fitting orbital parameters and their uncertainties for each planet. We find the outer planet has a period of 1002 ± 5 days and minimum mass of 5.61 ± 0.38 M{sub Jup}. We also place a 95% upper limit of 0.80 m s{sup −1} yr{sup −1} on long-term trends caused by additional, more distant companions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

MagAO imaging of long-period objects (MILO). I. A benchmark M dwarf companion exciting a massive planet around the sun-like star HD 7449

We present high-contrast Magellan adaptive optics images of HD 7449, a Sun-like star with one planet and a long-term radial velocity (RV) trend. We unambiguously detect the source of the long-term trend from 0.6–2.15 μm at a separation of ∼0.″54. We use the object’s colors and spectral energy distribution to show that it is most likely an M4–M5 dwarf (mass ∼0.1–0.2 M{sub ⊙}) at the same distance as the primary and is therefore likely bound. We also present new RVs measured with the Magellan/MIKE and Planet Finder Spectrograph spectrometers and compile these with archival data from CORALIE and HARPS. We use a new Markov chain Monte Carlo procedure to constrain both the mass (>0.17 M{sub ⊙} at 99% confidence) and semimajor axis (∼18 AU) of the M dwarf companion (HD 7449B). We also refine the parameters of the known massive planet (HD 7449Ab), finding that its minimum mass is 1.09{sub −0.19}{sup +0.52} M{sub J}, its semimajor axis is 2.33{sub −0.02}{sup +0.01} AU, and its eccentricity is 0.8{sub −0.06}{sup +0.08}. We use N-body simulations to constrain the eccentricity of HD 7449B to ≲0.5. The M dwarf may be inducing Kozai oscillations on the planet, explaining its high eccentricity. If this is the case and its orbit was initially circular, the mass of the planet would need to be ≲1.5 M{sub J}. This demonstrates that strong constraints on known planets can be made using direct observations of otherwise undetectable long-period companions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

A pair of giant planets around the evolved intermediate-mass star HD 47366: Multiple circular orbits or a mutually retrograde configuration

We report the detection of a double planetary system around the evolved intermediate-mass star HD 47366 from precise radial-velocity measurements at the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory, Xinglong Station, and Australian Astronomical Observatory. The star is a K1 giant with a mass of 1.81 ± 0.13 M{sub ⊙}, a radius of 7.30 ± 0.33 R{sub ⊙}, and solar metallicity. The planetary system is composed of two giant planets with minimum masses of 1.75{sub −0.17}{sup +0.20} M{sub J} and 1.86{sub −0.15}{sup +0.16} M{sub J}, orbital periods of 363.3{sub −2.4}{sup +2.5} days and 684.7{sub −4.9}{sup +5.0} days, and eccentricities of 0.089{sub −0.060}{sup +0.079} and 0.278{sub −0.094}{sup +0.067}, respectively, which are derived by a double Keplerian orbital fit to the radial-velocity data. The system adds to the population of multi-giant-planet systems with relatively small orbital separations, which are preferentially found around evolved intermediate-mass stars. Dynamical stability analysis for the system revealed, however, that the best-fit orbits are unstable in the case of a prograde configuration. The system could be stable if the planets were in 2:1 mean-motion resonance, but this is less likely, considering the observed period ratio and eccentricity. A present possible scenario for the system is that both of the planets have nearly circular orbits, namely the eccentricity of the outer planet is less than ∼0.15, which is just within 1.4σ of the best-fit value, or the planets are in a mutually retrograde configuration with a mutual orbital inclination larger than 160°.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

ANALYSIS OF TERRESTRIAL PLANET FORMATION BY THE GRAND TACK MODEL: SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE AND TACK LOCATION

The Grand Tack model of terrestrial planet formation has emerged in recent years as the premier scenario used to account for several observed features of the inner solar system. It relies on the early migration of the giant planets to gravitationally sculpt and mix the planetesimal disk down to ∼1 au, after which the terrestrial planets accrete from material remaining in a narrow circumsolar annulus. Here, we investigate how the model fares under a range of initial conditions and migration course-change (“tack”) locations. We run a large number of N-body simulations with tack locations of 1.5 and 2 au and test initial conditions using equal-mass planetary embryos and a semi-analytical approach to oligarchic growth. We make use of a recent model of the protosolar disk that takes into account viscous heating, includes the full effect of type 1 migration, and employs a realistic mass–radius relation for the growing terrestrial planets. Our results show that the canonical tack location of Jupiter at 1.5 au is inconsistent with the most massive planet residing at 1 au at greater than 95% confidence. This favors a tack farther out at 2 au for the disk model and parameters employed. Of the different initial conditions, we find that the oligarchic case is capable of statistically reproducing the orbital architecture and mass distribution of the terrestrial planets, while the equal-mass embryo case is not.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

THE RINGS OF CHARIKLO UNDER CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE GIANT PLANETS

The Centaur population is composed of minor bodies wandering between the giant planets that frequently perform close gravitational encounters with these planets, leading to a chaotic orbital evolution. Recently, the discovery of two well-defined narrow rings was announced around the Centaur 10199 Chariklo. The rings are assumed to be in the equatorial plane of Chariklo and to have circular orbits. The existence of a well-defined system of rings around a body in such a perturbed orbital region poses an interesting new problem. Are the rings of Chariklo stable when perturbed by close gravitational encounters with the giant planets? Our approach to address this question consisted of forward and backward numerical simulations of 729 clones of Chariklo, with similar initial orbits, for a period of 100 Myr. We found, on average, that each clone experiences during its lifetime more than 150 close encounters with the giant planets within one Hill radius of the planet in question. We identified some extreme close encounters that were able to significantly disrupt or disturb the rings of Chariklo. About 3% of the clones lose their rings and about 4% of the clones have their rings significantly disturbed. Therefore, our results show that in most cases (more than 90%), the close encounters with the giant planets do not affect the stability of the rings in Chariklo-like systems. Thus, if there is an efficient mechanism that creates the rings, then these structures may be common among these kinds of Centaurs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

EXAMINING TATOOINE: ATMOSPHERIC MODELS OF NEPTUNE-LIKE CIRCUMBINARY PLANETS

Circumbinary planets experience a time-varying irradiation pattern as they orbit their two host stars. In this work, we present the first detailed study of the atmospheric effects of this irradiation pattern on known and hypothetical gaseous circumbinary planets. Using both a one-dimensional energy balance model (EBM) and a three-dimensional general circulation model (GCM), we look at the temperature differences between circumbinary planets and their equivalent single-star cases in order to determine the nature of the atmospheres of these planets. We find that for circumbinary planets on stable orbits around their host stars, temperature differences are on average no more than 1.0% in the most extreme cases. Based on detailed modeling with the GCM, we find that these temperature differences are not large enough to excite circulation differences between the two cases. We conclude that gaseous circumbinary planets can be treated as their equivalent single-star case in future atmospheric modeling efforts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

KEPLER-1647B: THE LARGEST AND LONGEST-PERIOD KEPLER TRANSITING CIRCUMBINARY PLANET

We report the discovery of a new Kepler transiting circumbinary planet (CBP). This latest addition to the still-small family of CBPs defies the current trend of known short-period planets orbiting near the stability limit of binary stars. Unlike the previous discoveries, the planet revolving around the eclipsing binary system Kepler-1647 has a very long orbital period (∼1100 days) and was at conjunction only twice during the Kepler mission lifetime. Due to the singular configuration of the system, Kepler-1647b is not only the longest-period transiting CBP at the time of writing, but also one of the longest-period transiting planets. With a radius of 1.06 ± 0.01 R {sub Jup}, it is also the largest CBP to date. The planet produced three transits in the light curve of Kepler-1647 (one of them during an eclipse, creating a syzygy) and measurably perturbed the times of the stellar eclipses, allowing us to measure its mass, 1.52 ± 0.65 M {sub Jup}. The planet revolves around an 11-day period eclipsing binary consisting of two solar-mass stars on a slightly inclined, mildly eccentric ( e {sub bin} = 0.16), spin-synchronized orbit. Despite having an orbital period three times longer than Earth’s, Kepler-1647b is in the conservative habitable zone of the binary star throughout its orbit.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

On the composition of young, directly imaged giant planets

The past decade has seen significant progress on the direct detection and characterization of young, self-luminous giant planets at wide orbital separations from their host stars. Some of these planets show evidence for disequilibrium processes like transport-induced quenching in their atmospheres; photochemistry may also be important, despite the large orbital distances. These disequilibrium chemical processes can alter the expected composition, spectral behavior, thermal structure, and cooling history of the planets, and can potentially confuse determinations of bulk elemental ratios, which provide important insights into planet-formation mechanisms. Using a thermo/photochemical kinetics and transport model, we investigate the extent to which disequilibrium chemistry affects the composition and spectra of directly imaged giant exoplanets. Results for specific “young Jupiters” such as HR 8799 b and 51 Eri b are presented, as are general trends as a function of planetary effective temperature, surface gravity, incident ultraviolet flux, and strength of deep atmospheric convection. We find that quenching is very important on young Jupiters, leading to CO/CH{sub 4} and N{sub 2}/NH{sub 3} ratios much greater than, and H{sub 2}O mixing ratios a factor of a few less than, chemical-equilibrium predictions. Photochemistry can also be important on such planets, with CO{sub 2} and HCN being key photochemical products. Carbon dioxide becomes a major constituent when stratospheric temperatures are low and recycling of water via the H{sub 2} + OH reaction becomes kinetically stifled. Young Jupiters with effective temperatures ≲700 K are in a particularly interesting photochemical regime that differs from both transiting hot Jupiters and our own solar-system giant planets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Tatooine's future: the eccentric response of Kepler's circumbinary planets to common-envelope evolution of their host stars

Inspired by the recent Kepler discoveries of circumbinary planets orbiting nine close binary stars, we explore the fate of the former as the latter evolve off the main sequence. We combine binary star evolution models with dynamical simulations to study the orbital evolution of these planets as their hosts undergo common-envelope (CE) stages, losing in the process a tremendous amount of mass on dynamical timescales. Five of the systems experience at least one Roche-lobe overflow and CE stage (Kepler-1647 experiences three), and the binary stars either shrink to very short orbits or coalesce; two systems trigger a double-degenerate supernova explosion. Kepler’s circumbinary planets predominantly remain gravitationally bound at the end of the CE phase, migrate to larger orbits, and may gain significant eccentricity; their orbital expansion can be more than an order of magnitude and can occur over the course of a single planetary orbit. The orbits these planets can reach are qualitatively consistent with those of the currently known post-CE, eclipse-time variations circumbinary candidates. Our results also show that circumbinary planets can experience both modes of orbital expansion (adiabatic and nonadiabatic) if their host binaries undergo more than one CE stage; multiplanet circumbinary systems like Kepler-47 can experience both modes during the same CE stage. Additionally, unlike Mercury orbiting the Sun, a circumbinary planet with the same semimajor axis can survive the CE evolution of a close binary star with a total mass of 1 M{sub ⊙}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

KEPLER-108: A MUTUALLY INCLINED GIANT PLANET SYSTEM

The vast majority of well studied giant-planet systems, including the solar system, are nearly coplanar, which implies dissipation within a primordial gas disk. However, intrinsic instability may lead to planet–planet scattering, which often produces non-coplanar, eccentric orbits. Planet scattering theories have been developed to explain observed high-eccentricity systems and also hot Jupiters; thus far their predictions for mutual inclination (I) have barely been tested. Here we characterize a highly mutually inclined (I=24{sub −8}{sup +11}°), moderately eccentric (e≳0.1) giant planet system: Kepler-108. This system consists of two approximately Saturn-mass planets with periods of approximately 49 and 190 days around a star with a wide (∼300 au) binary companion in an orbital configuration inconsistent with a purely disk migration origin.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Multi-planet System Transiting the V = 9 Rapidly Rotating F-Star HD 106315

We report the discovery of a multi-planet system orbiting HD 106315, a rapidly rotating mid F-type star, using data from the K2 mission. HD 106315 hosts a 2.51 ± 0.12 R {sub ⊕} sub-Neptune in a 9.5-day orbit and a 4.31{sub −0.27}{sup +0.24} R{sub ⊕} super-Neptune in a 21-day orbit. The projected rotational velocity of HD 106315 (12.9 km s{sup −1}) likely precludes precise measurements of the planets’ masses but could enable a measurement of the sky-projected spin–orbit obliquity for the outer planet via Doppler tomography. The eccentricities of both planets were constrained to be consistent with 0, following a global modeling of the system that includes a Gaia distance and dynamical arguments. The HD 106315 system is one of few multi-planet systems hosting a Neptune-sized planet for which orbital obliquity measurements are possible, making it an excellent test-case for formation mechanisms of warm-Neptunian systems. The brightness of the host star also makes HD 106315 c a candidate for future transmission spectroscopic follow-up studies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Two Small Transiting Planets and a Possible Third Body Orbiting HD 106315

The masses, atmospheric makeups, spin–orbit alignments, and system architectures of extrasolar planets can be best studied when the planets orbit bright stars. We report the discovery of three bodies orbiting HD 106315, a bright (V = 8.97 mag) F5 dwarf targeted by our K2 survey for transiting exoplanets. Two small transiting planets are found to have radii 2.23{sub −0.25}{sup +0.30} R{sub ⊕} and 3.95{sub −0.39}{sup +0.42} R{sub ⊕} and orbital periods 9.55 days and 21.06 days, respectively. A radial velocity (RV) trend of 0.3 ± 0.1 m s{sup −1} day{sup −1} indicates the likely presence of a third body orbiting HD 106315 with period ≳160 days and mass ≳45 M {sub ⊕}. Transits of this object would have depths ≳0.1% and are definitively ruled out. Although the star has v sin i = 13.2 km s{sup −1}, it exhibits a short-timescale RV variability of just 6.4 m s{sup −1}. Thus, it is a good target for RV measurements of the mass and density of the inner two planets and the outer object’s orbit and mass. Furthermore, the combination of RV noise and moderate v sin i makes HD 106315 a valuable laboratory for studying the spin–orbit alignment of small planets through the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect. Space-based atmospheric characterization of the two transiting planets via transit and eclipse spectroscopy should also be feasible. This discovery demonstrates again the power of K2 to find compelling exoplanets worthy of future study.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

HAT-P-11: Discovery of a Second Planet and a Clue to Understanding Exoplanet Obliquities

HAT-P-11 is a mid-K dwarf that hosts one of the first Neptune-sized planets found outside the solar system. The orbit of HAT-P-11b is misaligned with the star’s spin—one of the few known cases of a misaligned planet orbiting a star less massive than the Sun. We find an additional planet in the system based on a decade of precision radial velocity (RV) measurements from Keck/High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer. HAT-P-11c is similar to Jupiter in its mass (M{sub P}sin i=1.6±0.1 M {sub J}) and orbital period (P=9.3{sub −0.5}{sup +1.0} year), but has a much more eccentric orbit (e = 0.60 ± 0.03). In our joint modeling of RV and stellar activity, we found an activity-induced RV signal of ∼7 m s{sup −1}, consistent with other active K dwarfs, but significantly smaller than the 31 m s{sup −1} reflex motion due to HAT-P-11c. We investigated the dynamical coupling between HAT-P-11b and c as a possible explanation for HAT-P-11b’s misaligned orbit, finding that planet–planet Kozai interactions cannot tilt planet b’s orbit due to general relativistic precession; however, nodal precession operating on million year timescales is a viable mechanism to explain HAT-P-11b’s high obliquity. This leaves open the question of why HAT-P-11c may have such a tilted orbit. At a distance of 38 pc, the HAT-P-11 system offers rich opportunities for further exoplanet characterization through astrometry and direct imaging.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

The CARMENES Search for Exoplanets around M Dwarfs: A Low-mass Planet in the Temperate Zone of the Nearby K2-18

K2-18 is a nearby M2.5 dwarf, located at 34 pc and hosting a transiting planet that was first discovered by the K2 mission and later confirmed with Spitzer Space Telescope observations. With a radius of ∼2 R {sub ⊕} and an orbital period of ∼33 days, the planet lies in the temperate zone of its host star and receives stellar irradiation similar to that of Earth. Here we perform radial velocity follow-up observations with the visual channel of CARMENES with the goal of determining the mass and density of the planet. We measure a planetary semi-amplitude of K {sub b} ∼ 3.5 m s{sup −1} and a mass of M {sub b} ∼ 9 M {sub ⊕}, yielding a bulk density around ρ{sub b}∼4 g cm{sup −3}. This indicates a low-mass planet with a composition consistent with a solid core and a volatile-rich envelope. A signal at 9 days was recently reported using radial velocity measurements taken with the HARPS spectrograph. This was interpreted as being due to a second planet. We see a weaker, time- and wavelength-dependent signal in the CARMENES data set and thus favor stellar activity for its origin. K2-18 b joins the growing group of low-mass planets detected in the temperate zone of M dwarfs. The brightness of the host star in the near-infrared makes the system a good target for detailed atmospheric studies with the James Webb Space Telescope.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗