Browsing by Subject "planets"

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Discovery of a Close Substellar Companion to the Hot Subdwarf Star HD 149382-the Decisive Influence of Substellar Objects on Late Stellar Evolution
(2009-09) Geier, S.; Edelmann, H.; Heber, U.; Morales-Rueda, L.; Edelmann, H.
Substellar objects, like planets and brown dwarfs orbiting stars, are by-products of the star Formation process. The evolution of their host stars may have an enormous impact on these small companions. Vice versa a planet might also influence stellar evolution as has recently been argued. Here, we report the discovery of an 8-23 Jupiter-mass substellar object orbiting the hot subdwarf HD 149382 in 2.391 d at a distance of only about five solar radii. Obviously, the companion must have survived engulfment in the red giant envelope. Moreover, the substellar companion has triggered envelope ejection and enabled the sdB star to form. Hot subdwarf stars have been identified as the sources of the unexpected ultraviolet (UV) emission in elliptical galaxies, but the Formation of these stars is not fully understood. Being the brightest star of its class, HD 149382 offers the best conditions to detect the substellar companion. Hence, undisclosed substellar companions offer a natural solution for the long-standing Formation problem of apparently single hot subdwarf stars. Planets and brown dwarfs may therefore alter the evolution of old stellar populations and may also significantly affect the UV emission of elliptical galaxies.
Discovery of Seven Companions To Intermediate-Mass Stars With Extreme Mass Ratios in the Scorpius-Centaurus Association
(2015-06) Hinkley, S.; Kraus, Adam L.; Ireland, Michael J.; Cheetham, Anthony; Carpenter, John M.; Tuthill, Peter; Lacour, Sylvestre; Evans, Thomas M.; Haubois, Xaubois; Kraus, Adam L.
We report the detection of seven low-mass companions to intermediate-mass stars (SpT B/A/F; M similar to 1.5-4.5M(circle dot)) in the Scorpius-Centaurus (Sco-Cen) Association using nonredundant aperture masking interferometry. Our newly detected objects have contrasts Delta L' approximate to 4-6, corresponding to masses as low as similar to 20 M-Jup and mass ratios of q approximate to 0.01-0.08, depending on the assumed age of the target stars. With projected separations rho approximate to 10-30 AU, our aperture masking detections sample an orbital region previously unprobed by conventional adaptive optics imaging of intermediate-mass Sco-Cen stars covering much larger orbital radii (similar to 30-3000 AU). At such orbital separations, these objects resemble higher-mass versions of the directly imaged planetary mass companions to the 10-30 Myr, intermediate-mass stars HR 8799, beta Pictoris, and HD 95086. These newly discovered companions span the brown dwarf desert, and their masses and orbital radii provide a new constraint on models of the Formation of low-mass stellar and substellar companions to intermediate-mass stars.
The Dust Cloud Around The White Dwarf G 29-38. II. Spectrum From 5 To 40 Mu M And Mid-Infrared Photometric Variability
(2009-03) Reach, William T.; Lisse, Carey; von Hippel, Ted; Mullally, Fergal; Mullally, Fergal
We model the mineralogy and distribution of dust around the white dwarf G29-39 using the infrared spectrum from 1 to 35 mu m. The spectral model for G29-38 dust combines a wide range of materials based on spectral studies of comets and debris disks. In order of their contribution to the mid-infrared emission, the most abundant minerals around G29-38 are amorphous carbon (lambda < 8 mu m), amorphous and crystalline silicates (5-40 mu m), water ice (10-15 and 23-35 mu m), and metal sulfides (18-28 mu m). The amorphous C can be equivalently replaced by other materials (like metallic Fe) with featureless infrared spectra. The best-fitting crystalline silicate is Fe-rich pyroxene. In order to absorb enough starlight to power the observed emission, the disk must either be much thinner than the stellar radius (so that it can be heated from above and below) or it must have an opening angle wider than 2 degrees. A "moderately optically thick" torus model fits well if the dust extends inward to 50 times the white dwarf radius, all grains hotter than 1100 K are vaporized, the optical depth from the star through the disk is tau(parallel to) = 5, and the radial density profile alpha r(-2.7); the total mass of this model disk is 2 x 1019 g. A physically thin (less than the white dwarf radius) and optically thick disk can contribute to the near-infrared continuum only; such a disk cannot explain the longer-wavelength continuum or strong emission features. The combination of a physically thin, optically thick inner disk and an outer, physically thick and moderately optically thin cloud or disk produces a reasonably good fit to the spectrum and requires only silicates in the outer cloud. We discuss the mineralogical results in comparison to planetary materials. The silicate composition contains minerals found from cometary spectra and meteorites, but Fe-rich pyroxene is more abundant than enstatite (Mg-rich pyroxene) or forsterite (Mg-rich olivine) in G29-38 dust, in contrast to what is found in most comet or meteorite mineralogies. Enstatite meteorites may be the most similar solar system materials to G29-38 dust. Finally, we suggest the surviving core of a "hot Jupiter" as an alternative (neither cometary nor asteroidal) origin for the debris, though further theoretical work is needed to determine if this hypothesis is viable.
An Eccentric Circumbinary Accretion Disk And The Detection Of Binary Massive Black Holes
(2008-01) MacFadyen, Andrew I.; Milosavljevic, Milos; Milosavljevic, Milos
We present a two-dimensional grid-based hydrodynamic simulation of a thin, viscous, locally isothermal corotating disk orbiting an equal-mass Newtonian binary point mass on a fixed circular orbit. We study the structure of the disk after multiple viscous times. The binary maintains a central hole in the viscously relaxed disk with radius equal to about twice the binary semimajor axis. Disk surface density within the hole is reduced by orders of magnitude relative to the density in the disk bulk. The inner truncation of the disk resembles the clearing of a gap in a protoplanetary disk. An initially circular disk becomes elliptical and then eccentric. Disturbances in the disk contain a component that is stationary in the rotating frame in which the binary is at rest; this component is a two-armed spiral density wave. We measure the distribution of the binary torque in the disk and find that the strongest positive torque is exerted inside the central low-density hole. We make connection with the linear theory of disk forcing at outer Lindblad resonances (OLRs) and find that the measured torque density distribution is consistent with forcing at the 3:2 (m = 2) OLR, well within the central hole. We also measure the time dependence of the rate at which gas accretes across the hole and find quasi-periodic structure. We discuss implications for variability and detection of active galactic nuclei containing a binary massive black hole.
Extreme Conditions in a Close Analog to the Young Solar System: Herschel Observations of Epsilon Eridani
(2014-08) Greaves, J. S.; Sibthorpe, B.; Acke, B.; Pantin, E. E.; Vandenbussche, B.; Olofsson, G.; Dominik, C.; Barlow, M. J.; Bendo, G. J.; Blommaert, Jadl; Brandeker, A.; de Vries, B. L.; Dent, W. R. F.; Di Francesco, J.; Fridlund, M.; Gear, W. K.; Harvey, Paul M.; Hogerheijde, M. R.; Holland, W. S.; Ivison, R. J.; Liseau, R.; Matthews, B. C.; Pilbratt, G. L.; Walker, H. J.; Waelkens, C.; Harvey, Paul M.
Far-infrared Herschel images of the is an element of Eridani system, seen at a fifth of the Sun's present age, resolve two belts of debris emission. Fits to the 160 mu m PACS image yield radial spans for these belts of 12-16 and 54-68 AU. The south end of the outer belt is approximate to 10% brighter than the north end in the PACS+SPIRE images at 160, 250, and 350 mu m, indicating a pericenter glow attributable to a planet "c" From this asymmetry and an upper bound on the offset of the belt center, this second planet should be mildly eccentric (e(c) approximate to 0.03-0.3). Compared to the asteroid and Kuiper Belts of the young Sun, the is an element of Eri belts are intermediate in brightness and more similar to each other, with up to 20 km sized collisional fragments in the inner belt totaling approximate to 5% of an Earth mass. This reservoir may feed the hot dust close to the star and could send many impactors through the Habitable Zone, especially if it is being perturbed by the suspected planet is an element of Eri b, at semi-major axis approximate to 3 AU.
High Precision Abundances of the Old Solar Twin HIP 102152: Insights On Li Depletion from the Oldest Sun
(2013-09) Monroe, TalaWanda R.; Melendez, Jorge; Ramirez, Ivan; Yong, David; Bergemann, Maria; Asplund, Martin; Bedell, Megan; Maia, Marcelo Tucci; Bean, Jacob; Lind, Karin; Alves-Brito, Alan; Casagrande, Luca; Castro, Matthieu; do Nascimento, Jose-Dias; Bazot, Michael; Freitas, Fabricio C.; Ramirez, Ivan
We present the first detailed chemical abundance analysis of the old 8.2 Gyr solar twin, HIP 102152. We derive differential abundances of 21 elements relative to the Sun with precisions as high as 0.004 dex (<= 1%), using ultra high-resolution (R = 110,000), high S/N UVES spectra obtained on the 8.2 m Very Large Telescope. Our determined metallicity of HIP 102152 is [Fe/H] = -0.013 +/- 0.004. The atmospheric parameters of the star were determined to be 54 K cooler than the Sun, 0.09 dex lower in surface gravity, and a microturbulence identical to our derived solar value. Elemental abundance ratios examined versus dust condensation temperature reveal a solar abundance pattern for this star, in contrast to most solar twins. The abundance pattern of HIP 102152 appears to be the most similar to solar of any known solar twin. Abundances of the younger, 2.9 Gyr solar twin, 18 Sco, were also determined from UVES spectra to serve as a comparison for HIP 102152. The solar chemical pattern of HIP 102152 makes it a potential candidate to host terrestrial planets, which is reinforced by the lack of giant planets in its terrestrial planet region. The following non-local thermodynamic equilibrium Li abundances were obtained for HIP 102152, 18 Sco, and the Sun: log epsilon (Li) = 0.48 +/- 0.07, 1.62 +/- 0.02, and 1.07 +/- 0.02, respectively. The Li abundance of HIP 102152 is the lowest reported to date for a solar twin, and allows us to consider an emerging, tightly constrained Li-age trend for solar twin stars.
The Lick-Carnegie Exoplanet Survey: Gliese 687 B-A Neptune-Mass Planet Orbiting A Nearby Red Dwarf
(2014-07) Burt, Jennifer; Vogt, Steven S.; Butler, R. Paul; Hanson, Russell; Meschiari, Stefano; Rivera, Eugenio J.; Henry, Gregory W.; Laughlin, Gregory; Meschiari, Stefano
Precision radial velocities from the Automated Planet Finder (APF) and Keck/HIRES reveal an M sin(i) = 18 +/- 2M(circle plus) planet orbiting the nearby M3V star GJ 687. This planet has an orbital period P = 38.14 days and a low orbital eccentricity. Our Stromgren b and y photometry of the host star suggests a stellar rotation signature with a period of P = 60 days. The star is somewhat chromospherically active, with a spot filling factor estimated to be several percent. The rotationally induced 60 day signal, however, is well separated from the period of the radial velocity variations, instilling confidence in the interpretation of a Keplerian origin for the observed velocity variations. Although GJ 687 b produces relatively little specific interest in connection with its individual properties, a compelling case can be argued that it is worthy of remark as an eminently typical, yet at a distance of 4.52 pc, a very nearby representative of the galactic planetary census. The detection of GJ 687 b indicates that the APF telescope is well suited to the discovery of low-mass planets orbiting low-mass stars in the as yet relatively un-surveyed region of the sky near the north celestial pole.
M Dwarf Metallicities And Giant Planet Occurrence: Ironing Out Uncertainties And Systematics
(2014-08) Gaidos, Eric; Mann, Andrew W.; Mann, Andrew W.
Comparisons between the planet populations around solar-type stars and those orbiting M dwarfs shed light on the possible dependence of planet formation and evolution on stellar mass. However, such analyses must control for other factors, i.e., metallicity, a stellar parameter that strongly influences the occurrence of gas giant planets. We obtained infrared spectra of 121 M dwarfs stars monitored by the California Planet Search and determined metallicities with an accuracy of 0.08 dex. The mean and standard deviation of the sample are -0.05 and 0.20 dex, respectively. We parameterized the metallicity dependence of the occurrence of giant planets on orbits with a period less than two years around solar-type stars and applied this to our M dwarf sample to estimate the expected number of giant planets. The number of detected planets (3) is lower than the predicted number (6.4), but the difference is not very significant (12% probability of finding as many or fewer planets). The three M dwarf planet hosts are not especially metal rich and the most likely value of the power-law index relating planet occurrence to metallicity is 1.06 dex per dex for M dwarfs compared to 1.80 for solar-type stars; this difference, however, is comparable to uncertainties. Giant planet occurrence around both types of stars allows, but does not necessarily require, a mass dependence of similar to 1 dex per dex. The actual planet-mass-metallicity relation may be complex, and elucidating it will require larger surveys like those to be conducted by ground-based infrared spectrographs and the Gaia space astrometry mission.
The Mass Of The Candidate Exoplanet Companion To HD 136118 From Hubble Space Telescope Astrometry And High-Precision Radial Velocities
(2010-01) Martioli, Elder; McArthur, Barbara E.; Benedict, G. Fritz; Bean, Jacob L.; Harrison, Thomas E.; Armstrong, Amber; McArthur, Barbara E.; Benedict, G. Fritz; Armstrong, Amber
We use Hubble Space Telescope fine guidance sensor astrometry and high-cadence radial velocities for HD 136118 from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope with archival data from Lick to determine the complete set of orbital parameters for HD 136118 b. We find an orbital inclination for the candidate exoplanet of i(b) = 163 degrees.1 +/- 3 degrees.0. This establishes the actual mass of the object, M(b) = 42(-18)(+11) M(J), in contrast to the minimum mass determined from the radial velocity data only, M(b) sin i similar to 12 M(J). Therefore, the low-mass companion to HD 136118 is now identified as a likely brown dwarf residing in the "brown dwarf desert."
New Evidence For A Substellar Luminosity Problem: Dynamical Mass For The Brown Dwarf Binary Gl 417BC
(2014-08) Dupuy, Trent J.; Liu, Michael C.; Ireland, Michael J.; Dupuy, Trent J.
We present new evidence for a problem with cooling rates predicted by substellar evolutionary models that implies that model-derived masses in the literature for brown dwarfs and directly imaged planets may be too high. Based on our dynamical mass for Gl 417BC (L4.5+L6) and a gyrochronology system age from its young, solar-type host star, commonly used models predict luminosities 0.2-0.4 dex lower than we observe. This corroborates a similar luminosity-age discrepancy identified in our previous work on the L4+L4 binary HD 130948BC, which coincidentally has nearly identical component masses (approximate to 50-55 M-Jup) and age (approximate to 800 Myr) as Gl 417BC. Such a luminosity offset would cause systematic errors of 15%-25% in model-derived masses at this age. After comparing different models, including cloudless models that should not be appropriate for mid-L dwarfs like Gl 417BC and HD 130948BC but actually match their luminosities better, we speculate the observed overluminosity could be caused by opacity holes (i.e., patchy clouds) in these objects. Moreover, from hybrid substellar evolutionary models that account for cloud disappearance, we infer the corresponding phase of overluminosity may extend from a few hundred million years up to a few gigayears and cause masses to be overestimated by up to 25%, even well after clouds disappear from view entirely. Thus, the range of ages and spectral types affected by this potential systematic shift in luminosity evolution would encompass most known directly imaged gas-giants and field brown dwarfs.
New Observational Constraints On The Nu Andromedae System With Data From The Hubble Space Telescope And Hobby-Eberly Telescope
(2010-06) McArthur, Barbara E.; Benedict, G. Fritz; Barnes, Rory; Martioli, Elder; Korzennik, Sylvain; Nelan, Ed; Butler, R. Paul; McArthur, Barbara E.; Benedict, G. Fritz; Martioli, Elder
We have used high-cadence radial velocity (RV) measurements from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope with existing velocities from the Lick, Elodie, Harlan J. Smith, and Whipple 60 '' telescopes combined with astrometric data from the Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensors to refine the orbital parameters and determine the orbital inclinations and position angles of the ascending node of components v And A c and d. With these inclinations and using M(*) = 1.31M(circle dot) as a primary mass, we determine the actual masses of two of the companions: And A c is 13.98+ 2.3 -5.3 MJUP, and. And A d is 10.25(-3.3)(+0.7) M(JUP). These measurements represent the first astrometric determination of mutual inclination between objects in an extrasolar planetary system, which we find to be 29 degrees.9 +/- 1 degrees. The combined RV measurements also reveal a long-period trend indicating a fourth planet in the system. We investigate the dynamic stability of this system and analyze regions of stability, which suggest a probable mass of v And A b. Finally, our parallaxes confirm that v And B is a stellar companion of v And A.
Planet Tours
(McDonald Observatory, 2011) University of Texas at Austin; McDonald Observatory
Seven-Year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) Observations: Planets and Celestial Calibration Sources
(2011-02) Weiland, J. L.; Odegard, N.; Hill, R. S.; Wollack, E.; Hinshaw, G.; Greason, M. R.; Jarosik, N.; Page, L.; Bennett, C. L.; Dunkley, J.; Gold, B.; Halpern, M.; Kogut, A.; Komatsu, Eiichiro; Larson, D.; Limon, M.; Meyer, S. S.; Nolta, M. R.; Smith, K. M.; Spergel, D. N.; Tucker, G. S.; Wright, E. L.; Komatsu, Eiichiro
We present WMAP seven-year observations of bright sources which are often used as calibrators at microwave frequencies. Ten objects are studied in five frequency bands (23-94 GHz): the outer planets (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) and five fixed celestial sources (Cas A, Tau A, Cyg A, 3C274, and 3C58). The seven-year analysis of Jupiter provides temperatures which are within 1 sigma of the previously published WMAP five-year values, with slightly tighter constraints on variability with orbital phase (0.2% +/- 0.4%), and limits (but no detections) on linear polarization. Observed temperatures for both Mars and Saturn vary significantly with viewing geometry. Scaling factors are provided which, when multiplied by the Wright Mars thermal model predictions at 350 mu m, reproduce WMAP seasonally averaged observations of Mars within similar to 2%. An empirical model is described which fits brightness variations of Saturn due to geometrical effects and can be used to predict the WMAP observations to within 3%. Seven-year mean temperatures for Uranus and Neptune are also tabulated. Uncertainties in Uranus temperatures are 3%-4% in the 41, 61, and 94 GHz bands; the smallest uncertainty for Neptune is 8% for the 94 GHz band. Intriguingly, the spectrum of Uranus appears to show a dip at similar to 30 GHz of unidentified origin, although the feature is not of high statistical significance. Flux densities for the five selected fixed celestial sources are derived from the seven-year WMAP sky maps and are tabulated for Stokes I, Q, and U, along with polarization fraction and position angle. Fractional uncertainties for the Stokes I fluxes are typically 1% to 3%. Source variability over the seven-year baseline is also estimated. Significant secular decrease is seen for Cas A and Tau A: our results are consistent with a frequency-independent decrease of about 0.53% per year for Cas A and 0.22% per year for Tau A. We present WMAP polarization data with uncertainties of a few percent for Tau A. Where appropriate, WMAP results are compared against previous findings in the literature. With an absolute calibration uncertainty of 0.2%, WMAP data are a valuable asset for calibration work.
Transit Timing Observations From Kepler. IV. Confirmation Of Four Multiple-Planet Systems By Simple Physical Models
(2012-05) Fabrycky, Daniel C.; Ford, Eric B.; Steffen, Jason H.; Rowe, Jason F.; Carter, Joshua A.; Moorhead, Althea V.; Batalha, Natalie M.; Borucki, William J.; Bryson, Steve; Buchhave, Lars A.; Christiansen, Jessie L.; Ciardi, David R.; Cochran, William D.; Endl, Michael; Fanelli, Michael N.; Fischer, Debra; Fressin, Francois; Geary, John; Haas, Michael R.; Hall, Jennifer R.; Holman, Matthew J.; Jenkins, Jon M.; Koch, David G.; Latham, David W.; Li, Jie; Lissauer, Jack J.; Lucas, Philip; Marcy, Geoffrey W.; Mazeh, Tsevi; McCauliff, Sean; Quinn, Samuel; Ragozzine, Darin; Sasselov, Dimitar; Shporer, Avi; Cochran, William D.; Endl, Michael
Eighty planetary systems of two or more planets are known to orbit stars other than the Sun. For most, the data can be sufficiently explained by non-interacting Keplerian orbits, so the dynamical interactions of these systems have not been observed. Here we present four sets of light curves from the Kepler spacecraft, each which of shows multiple planets transiting the same star. Departure of the timing of these transits from strict periodicity indicates that the planets are perturbing each other: the observed timing variations match the forcing frequency of the other planet. This confirms that these objects are in the same system. Next we limit their masses to the planetary regime by requiring the system remain stable for astronomical timescales. Finally, we report dynamical fits to the transit times, yielding possible values for the planets' masses and eccentricities. As the timespan of timing data increases, dynamical fits may allow detailed constraints on the systems' architectures, even in cases for which high-precision Doppler follow-up is impractical.
Water Vapor Map Of Mars Near Summer Solstice Using Ground-Based Infrared Spectroscopy
(2010) Encrenaz, T.; Greathouse, T. K.; Bezard, B.; Fouchet, T.; Lefevre, F.; Montmessin, F.; Bitner, M.; Kruger, A.; Richter, M. J.; Lacy, J. H.; Forget, F.; Atreya, S. K.; Lacy, J. H.
Ground-based spatial mapping of Mars provides a unique way to retrieve the global distribution of minor atmospheric species and to study transient phenomena or possible variations with the local hour. We have obtained an instantaneous map of water vapor on Mars near summer solstice (Ls = 80 degrees) using the Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph (TEXES) at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) at Mauna Kea Observatory. Data have been obtained in the 1230-1245 cm(-1) range (lambda = 8.1 mu m), with a spatial resolution of 1.1 arcsec (after convolution) and a spectral resolution of 0.012 cm(-1) (R = 10(5)). The map has been retrieved from the line depth of a weak HDO transition, compared with the line depth of a weak CO(2) nearby transition. The TEXES map exhibits a strong maximum around the northern pole, as expected from previous observations and from climate model predictions. More interestingly, it shows longitudinal variations, both at high northern latitudes and at mid-latitudes, in close agreement with the predictions of the Global Climate Model developed at the Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique (LMD GCM). The inferred water vapor mixing ratio is also in good agreement with the model predictions. The longitudinal variations at mid latitudes show a general enhancement toward the east. They do not seem to be due to the effect of local hour, but can be explained by dynamical effects generated by the topography. The map of surface temperatures, inferred from the continuum flux, is surprisingly different from the map expected from the climate models; the source of this discrepancy is still unclear.
A Young-Planet Search in Visible and Infrared Light: Dn Tauri, V836 Tauri, and V827 Tauri
(2008-11) Prato, L.; Huerta, M.; Johns-Krull, C. M.; Mahmud, N.; Jaffe, D. T.; Hartigan, P.; Jaffe, D. T.
In searches for low-mass companions to late-type stars, correlation between radial velocity variations and line bisector slope changes indicates contamination by large starspots. Two young stars demonstrate that this test is not sufficient to rule out starspots as a cause of radial velocity variations. As part of our survey for substellar companions to T Tauri stars, we identified the similar to 2 Myr old planet host candidates DN Tau and V836 Tau. In both cases, visible-light radial velocity modulation appears periodic and is uncorrelated with line bisector span variations, suggesting close companions of several M(Jup) in these systems. However, high-resolution, infrared spectroscopy shows that starspots cause the radial velocity variations. We also report unambiguous results for V827 Tau, identified as a spotted star on the basis of both visible-light and infrared spectroscopy. Our results suggest that infrared follow-up observations are critical for determining the source of radial velocity modulation in young, spotted stars.