One year of AU Mic with HARPS: I-measuring the masses of the two transiting planets
Article
Article Title | One year of AU Mic with HARPS: I-measuring the masses of the two transiting planets |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 1074 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Zicher, Norbert, Barragan, Oscar, Klein, Baptiste, Aigrain, Suzanne, Owen, James E., Gandolfi, Davide, Lagrange, Anne-Marie, Serrano, Luisa Maria, Kaye, Laurel, Nielsen, Louise Dyregaard, Rajpaul, Vinesh Maguire, Grandjean, Antoine, Goffo, Elisa and Nicholson, Belinda |
Journal Title | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
Journal Citation | 512 (2), pp. 3060-3078 |
Number of Pages | 19 |
Year | 02 May 2022 |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
ISSN | 0035-8711 |
1365-2966 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac614 |
Web Address (URL) | https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/512/2/3060/6547782 |
Abstract | The system of two transiting Neptune-sized planets around the bright, young M-dwarf AU Mic provides a unique opportunity to test models of planet formation, early evolution, and star–planet interaction. However, the intense magnetic activity of the hoststar makes measuring the masses of the planets via the radial velocity (RV) method very challenging. We report on a 1-yr, intensive monitoring campaign of the system using 91 observations with the HARPS spectrograph, allowing for detailed modelling of the ∼600 m s−1 peak-to-peak activity-induced RV variations. We used a multidimensional Gaussian Process framework to model these and the planetary signals simultaneously. We detect the latter with semi-amplitudes of Kb = 5.8 ± 2.5 m s−1 and Kc = 8.5 ± 2.5 m s−1, respectively. The resulting mass estimates, Mb = 11.7 ± 5.0 M⊕ and Mc = 22.2 ± 6.7 M⊕, suggest that planet b might be less dense, and planet c considerably denser than previously thought. These results are in tension with the current standard models of core-accretion. They suggest that both planets accreted a H/He envelope that is smaller than expected, and the trend between the two planets’ envelope fractions is the opposite of what is predicted by theory. |
Keywords | techniques: radial velocities; techniques: spectroscopic; stars: individual: AU Microscopii; planets and satellites: fundamental parameters; stars: activity; stars: starspots |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 510109. Stellar astronomy and planetary systems |
Public Notes | This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. |
Title | One year of AU Mic with HARPS: I-measuring the masses of the two transiting planets |
Byline Affiliations | University of Oxford, United Kingdom |
Imperial College London, United Kingdom | |
University of Turin, Italy | |
Grenoble Alpes University, France | |
University of Geneva, Switzerland | |
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom | |
Karl Schwarzschild Observatory, Germany | |
School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing | |
Centre for Astrophysics |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/w3yvx/one-year-of-au-mic-with-harps-i-measuring-the-masses-of-the-two-transiting-planets
Download files
44
total views17
total downloads3
views this month1
downloads this month