Suchergebnisse

Context. Probing the evaporation of exoplanet atmospheres is key to understanding the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems. The main tracer of evaporation in the UV is the Lyman-α transition, which can reveal extended exospheres of neutral hydrogen. Recently, the near-infrared (NIR) metastable helium triplet (10 833 Å) revealed extended thermospheres in several exoplanets. This opens a new window into evaporation. Aims. We aim at spectrally resolving the first helium absorption signature detected in the warm Saturn WASP-107b with the Wide Filed Camera 3 on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST/WFC3). Methods. We obtained one transit of WASP-107b with CARMENES installed on the 3.5 m telescope at the Calar Alto observatory. Results. We detect an excess helium absorption signature of 5.54 ± 0.27% (20σ) in the planet rest frame during the transit. The detection is in agreement with the previous detection achieved with HST/WFC3. The signature shows an excess absorption in the blue part of the lines, suggesting that He I atoms are escaping from the atmosphere of WASP-107b. We interpret the time-series absorption spectra using the 3D EVE code. Our observations can be explained by combining an extended thermosphere that fills half of the Roche lobe and a large exospheric tail sustained by an escape rate of metastable helium of about 106 g s-1. In this scenario, however, the upper atmosphere needs to be subjected to a reduced photoionisation and radiation pressure from the star for the model to match the observations. Conclusions. We confirm the presence of helium in the atmosphere of WASP-107b at high confidence. The helium feature is detected from space and from the ground. The ground-based high-resolution signal brings detailed information about the spatial and dynamical structure of the upper atmosphere, and simulations suggest that the He I signature of WASP-107b probes both its thermosphere and exosphere, establishing this signature as a robust probe of exoplanetary upper atmospheres. Surveys with NIR high-resolution spectrographs (e.g. CARMENES, the Spectromètre infrarouge (SPIRou), or the Near-Infrared Planet Searcher (NIRPS)) will deliver a statistical understanding of exoplanet thermospheres and exospheres through the helium triplet. © ESO 2019. ; This work has been carried out within the frame of the National Centre for Competence in Research "PlanetS" supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). R.A., V.B., C.L., D.E., and F.P. acknowledge the financial support of the SNSF. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (project FOUR ACES; grant agreement No 724427). A.W. acknowledges the financial support of the SNSF by the grant number P2GEP2_178191. ; Peer Reviewed

Context. The vast majority of the known stars of ultra low metallicity ([Fe=H] >-4:5) are known to be enhanced in carbon, and belong to the 'low-carbon band' (A(C) = log(C=H) + 12 7:6). It is generally, although not universally, accepted that this peculiar chemical composition reflects the chemical composition of the gas cloud out of which these stars were formed. The first ultra-metalpoor star discovered, HE 0107-5240, is also enhanced in carbon and belongs to the 'low-carbon band'. It has recently been claimed to be a long-period binary, based on radial velocity measurements. It has also been claimed that this binarity may explain its peculiar composition as being due to mass transfer from a former AGB companion. Theoretically, low-mass ratios in binary systems are much more favoured amongst Pop III stars than they are amongst solar-metallicity stars. Any constraint on the mass ratio of a system of such low metallicity would shed light on the star formation mechanisms in this metallicity regime. Aims.We acquired one high precision spectrum withESPRESSO in order to check the reality of the radial velocity variations. In addition we analysed all the spectra of this star in the ESO archive obtained with UVES to have a set of homogenously measured radial velocities. Methods. The radial velocities were measured using cross correlation against a synthetic spectrum template. Due to the weakness of metallic lines in this star, the signal comes only from the CH molecular lines of the G-band. Results. The measurement obtained in 2018 from an ESPRESSO spectrum demonstrates unambiguously that the radial velocity of HE 0107-5240 has increased from 2001 to 2018. Closer inspection of the measurements based on UVES spectra in the interval 2001-2006 show that there is a 96% probability that the radial velocity correlates with time, hence the radial velocity variations can already be suspected from the UVES spectra alone. Conclusions.We confirm the earlier claims of radial velocity variations in HE0107-5240. The simplest explanation of such variations is that the star is indeed in a binary system with a long period. The nature of the companion is unconstrained and we consider it is equally probable that it is an unevolved companion or a white dwarf. Continued monitoring of the radial velocities of this star is strongly encouraged. ; With funding from the Spanish government through the "María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence" accreditation (MDM-2017-0737)

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. ; With funding from the Spanish government through the "María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence" accreditation (MDM-2017-0737)

Context. The discovery of Proxima b marked one of the most important milestones in exoplanetary science in recent years. Yet the limited precision of the available radial velocity data and the difficulty in modelling the stellar activity calls for a confirmation of the Earth-mass planet. Aims. We aim to confirm the presence of Proxima b using independent measurements obtained with the new ESPRESSO spectrograph, and refine the planetary parameters taking advantage of its improved precision. Methods. We analysed 63 spectroscopic ESPRESSO observations of Proxima (Gl 551) taken during 2019. We obtained radial velocity measurements with a typical radial velocity photon noise of 26 cm s-1. We combined these data with archival spectroscopic observations and newly obtained photometric measurements to model the stellar activity signals and disentangle them from planetary signals in the radial velocity (RV) data. We ran a joint Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis on the time series of the RV and full width half maximum of the cross-correlation function to model the planetary and stellar signals present in the data, applying Gaussian process regression to deal with the stellar activity signals. Results. We confirm the presence of Proxima b independently in the ESPRESSO data and in the combined ESPRESSO+ HARPS+UVES dataset. The ESPRESSO data on its own shows Proxima b at a period of 11.218 ± 0.029 days, with a minimum mass of 1.29 ± 0.13 M? . In the combined dataset we measure a period of 11.18427 ± 0.00070 days with a minimum mass of 1.173 ± 0.086 M? . We get a clear measurement of the stellar rotation period (87 ± 12 d) and its induced RV signal, but no evidence of stellar activity as a potential cause for the 11.2 days signal. We find some evidence for the presence of a second short-period signal, at 5.15 days with a semi-amplitude of only 40 cm s-1. If caused by a planetary companion, it would correspond to a minimum mass of 0.29 ± 0.08 M? . We find that forthe case of Proxima, the full width half maximum of the cross-correlation function can be used as a proxy for the brightness changes and that its gradient with time can be used to successfully detrend the RV data from part of the influence of stellar activity. The activity-induced RV signal in the ESPRESSO data shows a trend in amplitude towards redder wavelengths. Velocities measured using the red end of the spectrograph are less affected by activity, suggesting that the stellar activity is spot dominated. This could be used to create differential RVs that are activity dominated and can be used to disentangle activity-induced and planetary-induced signals. The data collected excludes the presence of extra companions with masses above 0.6 M? at periods shorter than 50 days. ; With funding from the Spanish government through the "María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence" accreditation (MDM-2017-0737)

This paper reports on the detailed characterization of the K2-111 planetary system with K2, WASP, and ASAS-SN photometry, as well as high-resolution spectroscopic data from HARPS-N and ESPRESSO. The host, K2-111, is confirmed to be a mildly evolved (log g = 4.17), iron-poor ([Fe/H] = -0.46), but alpha-enhanced ([α/Fe]=0.27), chromospherically quiet, very old thick disc G2 star. A global fit, performed by using PyORBIT, shows that the transiting planet, K2-111 b, orbits with a period Pb = 5.3518 ± 0.0004 d and has a planet radius of 1.82+0.11-0.09 R⊙ and a mass of 5.29+0.76-0.77 M⊙, resulting in a bulk density slightly lower than that of the Earth. The stellar chemical composition and the planet properties are consistent with K2-111 b being a terrestrial planet with an iron core mass fraction lower than the Earth. We announce the existence of a second signal in the radial velocity data that we attribute to a non-transiting planet, K2-111 c, with an orbital period of 15.6785 ± 0.0064 d, orbiting in near-3:1 mean motion resonance with the transiting planet, and a minimum planet mass of 11.3 ± 1.1 M⊙. Both planet signals are independently detected in the HARPS-N and ESPRESSO data when fitted separately. There are potentially more planets in this resonant system, but more well-sampled data are required to confirm their presence and physical parameters. ; With funding from the Spanish government through the "María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence" accreditation (MDM-2017-0737)