arXiv subjects

C. Lovis

Publications and source records attributed to C. Lovis.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Confirmation of the radial velocity super-Earth K2-18c with HARPS and CARMENES

In an earlier campaign to characterize the mass of the transiting temperate super-Earth K2-18b with HARPS, a second, non-transiting planet was posited to exist in the system at $\sim 9$ days. Further radial velocity follow-up with the CARMENES spectrograph visible channel revealed a much weaker signal at 9 days which also appeared to vary chromatically and temporally leading to the conclusion that the origin of the 9 day signal was more likely to be related to stellar activity than to being planetary. Here we conduct a detailed re-analysis of all available RV time-series, including a set of 31 previously unpublished HARPS measurements, to investigate the effects of time-sampling and of simultaneous modelling of planetary + activity signals on the existence and origin of the curious 9 day signal. We conclude that the 9 day signal is real and was initially seen to be suppressed in the CARMENES data due to a small number of anomalous measurements, although the exact cause of these anomalies remains unknown. Investigation of the signal's evolution in time, with wavelength, and detailed model comparison reveals that the 9 day signal is most likely planetary in nature. By this analysis, we reconcile the conflicting HARPS and CARMENES results and measure precise and self-consistent planet masses of $m_{p,b} = 8.63 \pm 1.35$ and $m_{p,c}\sin{i_c}=5.62 \pm 0.84$ M$_{\oplus}$. This work, along with the previously published RV papers on the K2-18 planetary system, highlight the importance of understanding one's time-sampling and of simultaneous planet + stochastic activity modelling, particularly when searching for sub-Neptune-sized planets with radial velocities.

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arXiv2018

Extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs around AF-type stars. X.The SOPHIE northern sample. Combining the SOPHIE and HARPS surveys to compute the close giant planet mass-period distribution around AF-type stars

The impact of the stellar mass on the giant planet properties is still to be fully understood. Main-Sequence (MS) stars more massive than the Sun remain relatively unexplored in radial velocity (RV) surveys, due to their characteristics that hinder classical RV measurements. Our aim is to characterize the close (up to 2.5 au) giant planet (GP) and brown dwarf (BD) population around AF MS stars and compare this population to stars with different masses. We used the SOPHIE spectrograph located on the 1.93m telescope at Observatoire de Haute-Provence to observe 125 northern, MS AF dwarfs. We used our dedicated SAFIR software to compute the RV and other spectroscopic observables. We characterized the detected sub-stellar companions and computed the GP and BD occurrence rates combining the present SOPHIE survey and a similar HARPS survey. We present new data on two known planetary systems around the F5-6V dwarfs HD16232 and HD113337. For the latter, we report an additional RV variation that might be induced by a second GP on a wider orbit. We also report the detection of fifteen binaries or massive sub-stellar companions with high-amplitude RV variations or long-term RV trends. Based on 225 targets observed with SOPHIE or HARPS, we constraint the BD frequency within 2-3 au around AF stars to be below 4 percents (1-sigma). For Jupiter-mass GP within 2-3 au (periods below 1000 days), we found the occurrence rate to be 3.7 (+3/-1) percents around AF stars with masses below 1.5 solar masses, and to be below 6 percents around AF stars with masses above 1.5 solar masses. For periods smaller than 10 days, we find the GP occurrence rate to be below 3 or 4.5 percents, respectively. Our results are compatible with the GP frequency reported around FGK dwarfs and are compatible with a possible increase of GP orbital periods with the stellar mass as predicted by formation models.

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arXiv2018

K2-263b: A 50-day period sub-Neptune with a mass measurement using HARPS-N

This paper reports on the validation and mass measurement of K2-263b, a sub-Neptune orbiting a quiet G9V star. Using K2 data from campaigns C5 and C16, we find this planet to have a period of $50.818947\pm 0.000094$ days and a radius of $2.41\pm0.12$ R$_{\oplus}$. We followed this system with HARPS-N to obtain 67 precise radial velocities. A combined fit of the transit and radial velocity data reveals that K2-263b has a mass of $14.8\pm3.1$ M$_{\oplus}$. Its bulk density ($5.7_{-1.4}^{+1.6}$ g cm$^{-3}$) implies that this planet has a significant envelope of water or other volatiles around a rocky core. EPIC211682544b likely formed in a similar way as the cores of the four giant planets in our own Solar System, but for some reason, did not accrete much gas. The planetary mass was confirmed by an independent Gaussian process-based fit to both the radial velocities and the spectroscopic activity indicators. K2-263b belongs to only a handful of confirmed K2 exoplanets with periods longer than 40 days. It is among the longest periods for a small planet with a precisely determined mass using radial velocities.

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arXiv2018

K2-265 b: A Transiting Rocky Super-Earth

We report the discovery of the super-Earth K2-265 b detected with K2 photometry. The planet orbits a bright (V_mag = 11.1) star of spectral type G8V with a period of 2.37 days. We obtained high-precision follow-up radial velocity measurements from HARPS, and the joint Bayesian analysis showed that K2-265 b has a radius of 1.71 +/- 0.11 R_earth and a mass of 6.54 +/- 0.84 M_earth, corresponding to a bulk density of 7.1 +/- 1.8 g/cm^3 . Composition analysis of the planet reveals an Earth-like, rocky interior, with a rock mass fraction of 80%. The short orbital period and small radius of the planet puts it below the lower limit of the photoevaporation gap, where the envelope of the planet could have eroded due to strong stellar irradiation, leaving behind an exposed core. Knowledge of the planet core composition allows us to infer the possible formation and evolution mechanism responsible for its current physical parameters.

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arXiv2018

Recovering the colour-dependent albedo of exoplanets with high-resolution spectroscopy: from ESPRESSO to the ELT

The characterization of planetary atmospheres is a daunting task, pushing current observing facilities to their limits. The next generation of high-resolution spectrographs mounted on large telescopes -- such as ESPRESSO@VLT and HIRES@ELT -- will allow us to probe and characterize exoplanetary atmospheres in greater detail than possible to this point. We present a method that permits the recovery of the colour-dependent reflectivity of exoplanets from high-resolution spectroscopic observations. Determining the wavelength-dependent albedo will provide insight into the chemical properties and weather of the exoplanet atmospheres. For this work, we simulated ESPRESSO@VLT and HIRES@ELT high-resolution observations of known planetary systems with several albedo configurations. We demonstrate how the cross correlation technique applied to theses simulated observations can be used to successfully recover the geometric albedo of exoplanets over a range of wavelengths. In all cases, we were able to recover the wavelength dependent albedo of the simulated exoplanets and distinguish between several atmospheric models representing different atmospheric configurations. In brief, we demonstrate that the cross correlation technique allows for the recovery of exoplanetary albedo functions from optical observations with the next generation of high-resolution spectrographs that will be mounted on large telescopes with reasonable exposure times. Its recovery will permit the characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres in terms of composition and dynamics and consolidates the cross correlation technique as a powerful tool for exoplanet characterization.

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arXiv2018

Planets around evolved intermediate-mass stars in open clusters II. Are there really planets around IC4651No9122, NGC2423No3 and NGC4349No127?

(shorter version)The aim of this work is to search for planets around intermediate-mass stars in open clusters by using RV data obtained with HARPS from an extensive survey with more than 15 years of observations for a sample of 142 giant stars in 17 open clusters. We present the discovery of a periodic RV signal compatible with the presence of a planet candidate in the 1.15 Gyr open cluster IC4651 orbiting the 2.06 M$_\odot$ star No. 9122. If confirmed, the planet candidate would have a minimum mass of 7.2 M$_{J}$ and a period of 747 days. However, we also find that the FWHM of the CCF varies with a period close to the RV, casting doubts on the planetary nature of the signal. We also provide refined parameters for the previously discovered planet around NGC2423 No. 3 but show evidence that the BIS of the CCF is correlated with the RV during some of the observing periods. This fact advises us that this might not be a real planet and that the RV variations could be caused by stellar activity and/or pulsations. Finally, we show that the previously reported signal by a brown dwarf around NGC4349 No. 127 is presumably produced by stellar activity modulation. The long-term monitoring of several red giants in open clusters has allowed us to find periodic RV variations in several stars. However, we also show that the follow-up of this kind of stars should last more than one orbital period to detect long-term signals of stellar origin. This work warns that although it is possible to detect planets around red giants, large-amplitude, long-period RV modulations do exist in such stars that can mimic the presence of an orbiting planetary body. Therefore, we need to better understand how such RV modulations behave as stars evolve along the RGB and perform a detailed study of all the possible stellar-induced signals (e.g. spots, pulsations, granulation) to comprehend the origin of RV variations.

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arXiv2018

The 55 Cnc system reassessed

Orbiting a bright, nearby star the 55 Cnc system offers a rare opportunity to study a multiplanet system that has a wide range of planetary masses and orbital distances. Using two decades of photometry and spectroscopy data, we have measured the rotation of the host star and its solar-like magnetic cycle. Accounting for this cycle in our velocimetric analysis of the system allows us to revise the properties of the outermost giant planet and its four planetary companions. The innermost planet 55 Cnc e is an unusually close-in super-Earth, whose transits have allowed for detailed follow-up studies. Recent observations favor the presence of a substantial atmosphere yet its composition, and the nature of the planet, remain unknown. We combined our derived planet mass (Mp = 8.0+-0.3 Mearth) with refined measurement of its optical radius derived from HST/STIS observations (Rp = 1.88+-0.03 Rearth over 530-750nm) to revise the density of 55 Cnc e (rho = 6.7+-0.4 g cm-3). Based on these revised properties we have characterized possible interiors of 55 Cnc e using a generalized Bayesian model. We confirm that the planet is likely surrounded by a heavyweight atmosphere, contributing a few percents of the planet radius. While we cannot exclude the presence of a water layer underneath the atmosphere, this scenario is unlikely given the observations of the planet across the entire spectrum and its strong irradiation. Follow-up observations of the system in photometry and in spectroscopy over different time-scales are needed to further investigate the nature and origin of this iconic super-Earth.

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arXiv2018

A 4.6-year period brown-dwarf companion interacting with the hot-Jupiter CoRoT-20 b

We report the discovery of an additional substellar companion in the CoRoT-20 system based on six years of HARPS and SOPHIE radial velocity follow-up. CoRoT-20 c has a minimum mass of 17 $\pm$ 1 $M_{Jup}$ and it orbits the host star in 4.59$\pm 0.05$ years, with an orbital eccentricity of 0.60 $\pm$ 0.03. This is the first identified system with an eccentric hot Jupiter and an eccentric massive companion. The discovery of the latter might be an indication of the migration mechanism of the hot Jupiter, via Lidov-Kozai effect. We explore the parameter space to determine which configurations would trigger this type of interactions.

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arXiv2018

Radial velocity follow-up of GJ1132 with HARPS. A precise mass for planet 'b' and the discovery of a second planet

GJ1132 is a nearby red dwarf known to host a transiting Earth-size planet. After its initial detection, we pursued an intense follow-up with the HARPS velocimeter. We now confirm the detection of GJ1132b with radial velocities only. We refined its orbital parameters and, in particular, its mass ($m_b = 1.66\pm0.23 M_\oplus$), density ($ρ_b = 6.3\pm1.3$ g.cm$^{-3}$) and eccentricity ($e_b < 0.22 $; 95\%). We also detect at least one more planet in the system. GJ1132c is a super-Earth with period $P_c = 8.93\pm0.01$ days and minimum mass $m_c \sin i_c = 2.64\pm0.44~M_\oplus$. Receiving about 1.9 times more flux than Earth in our solar system, its equilibrium temperature is that of a temperate planet ($T_{eq}=230-300$ K for albedos $A=0.75-0.00$) and places GJ1132c near the inner edge of the so-called habitable zone. Despite an a priori favourable orientation for the system, $Spitzer$ observations reject most transit configurations, leaving a posterior probability $<1\%$ that GJ1132c transits. GJ1132(d) is a third signal with period $P_d = 177\pm5$ days attributed to either a planet candidate with minimum mass $m_d \sin i_d = 8.4^{+1.7}_{-2.5}~M_\oplus$ or stellar activity. (abridged)

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arXiv2018

An Earth-sized exoplanet with a Mercury-like composition

The Earth, Venus, Mars, and some extrasolar terrestrial planets have a mass and radius that is consistent with a mass fraction of about 30% metallic core and 70% silicate mantle. At the inner frontier of the solar system, Mercury has a completely different composition, with a mass fraction of about 70% metallic core and 30% silicate mantle. Several formation or evolution scenarios are proposed to explain this metal-rich composition, such as a giant impact, mantle evaporation, or the depletion of silicate at the inner-edge of the proto-planetary disk. These scenarios are still strongly debated. Here we report the discovery of a multiple transiting planetary system (K2-229), in which the inner planet has a radius of 1.165+/-0.066 Rearth and a mass of 2.59+/-0.43 Mearth. This Earth-sized planet thus has a core-mass fraction that is compatible with that of Mercury, while it was expected to be similar to that of the Earth based on host-star chemistry. This larger Mercury analogue either formed with a very peculiar composition or it has evolved since, e.g. by losing part of its mantle. Further characterisation of Mercury-like exoplanets like K2-229 b will help putting the detailed in-situ observations of Mercury (with Messenger and BepiColombo) into the global context of the formation and evolution of solar and extrasolar terrestrial planets.

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arXiv2018

An accurate mass determination for Kepler-1655b, a moderately-irradiated world with a significant volatile envelope

We present the confirmation of a small, moderately-irradiated (F = 155 +/- 7 Fearth) Neptune with a substantial gas envelope in a P=11.8728787+/-0.0000085-day orbit about a quiet, Sun-like G0V star Kepler-1655. Based on our analysis of the Kepler light curve, we determined Kepler-1655b's radius to be 2.213+/-0.082 Rearth. We acquired 95 high-resolution spectra with TNG/HARPS-N, enabling us to characterize the host star and determine an accurate mass for Kepler-1655b of 5.0+3.1/-2.8 Mearth via Gaussian-process regression. Our mass determination excludes an Earth-like composition with 98\% confidence. Kepler-1655b falls on the upper edge of the evaporation valley, in the relatively sparsely occupied transition region between rocky and gas-rich planets. It is therefore part of a population of planets that we should actively seek to characterize further.

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arXiv2018

Eyes on K2-3: A system of three likely sub-Neptunes characterized with HARPS-N and HARPS

M-dwarf stars are promising targets for identifying and characterizing potentially habitable planets. K2-3 is a nearby (45 pc), early-type M dwarf hosting three small transiting planets, the outermost of which orbits close to the inner edge of the stellar (optimistic) habitable zone. The K2-3 system is well suited for follow-up characterization studies aimed at determining accurate masses and bulk densities of the three planets. Using a total of 329 radial velocity measurements collected over 2.5 years with the HARPS-N and HARPS spectrographs and a proper treatment of the stellar activity signal, we aim to improve measurements of the masses and bulk densities of the K2-3 planets. We use our results to investigate the physical structure of the planets. We analyse radial velocity time series extracted with two independent pipelines by using Gaussian process regression. We adopt a quasi-periodic kernel to model the stellar magnetic activity jointly with the planetary signals. We use Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the robustness of our mass measurements of K2-3\,c and K2-3\,d, and to explore how additional high-cadence radial velocity observations might improve them. Despite the stellar activity component being the strongest signal present in the radial velocity time series, we are able to derive masses for both planet b ($M_{\rm b}=6.6\pm1.1$ $M_{\rm \oplus}$) and planet c ($M_{\rm c}=3.1^{+1.3}_{-1.2}$ $M_{\rm \oplus}$). The Doppler signal due to K2-3\,d remains undetected, likely because of its low amplitude compared to the radial velocity signal induced by the stellar activity. The closeness of the orbital period of K2-3\,d to the stellar rotation period could also make the detection of the planetary signal complicated. [...]

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arXiv2018

The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets. XLIII. A compact system of four super-Earth planets orbiting HD 215152

We report the discovery of four super-Earth planets around HD 215152, with orbital periods of 5.76, 7.28, 10.86, and 25.2 d, and minimum masses of 1.8, 1.7, 2.8, and 2.9 M_Earth respectively. This discovery is based on 373 high-quality radial velocity measurements taken by HARPS over 13 years. Given the low masses of the planets, the signal-to-noise ratio is not sufficient to constrain the planet eccentricities. However, a preliminary dynamical analysis suggests that eccentricities should be typically lower than about 0.03 for the system to remain stable. With two pairs of planets with a period ratio lower than 1.5, with short orbital periods, low masses, and low eccentricities, HD 215152 is similar to the very compact multi-planet systems found by Kepler, which is very rare in radial-velocity surveys. This discovery proves that these systems can be reached with the radial-velocity technique, but characterizing them requires a huge amount of observations.

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arXiv2017

The RoPES project with HARPS and HARPS-N. I. A system of super-Earths orbiting the moderately active K-dwarf HD 176986

We report the discovery of a system of two super-Earths orbiting the moderately active K-dwarf HD 176986. This work is part of the RoPES RV program of G- and K-type stars, which combines radial velocities (RVs) from the HARPS and HARPS-N spectrographs to search for short-period terrestrial planets. HD 176986 b and c are super-Earth planets with masses of 5.74 and 9.18 M$_{\oplus}$, orbital periods of 6.49 and 16.82 days, and distances of 0.063 and 0.119 AU in orbits that are consistent with circular. The host star is a K2.5 dwarf, and despite its modest level of chromospheric activity (log(R'hk) = - 4.90 +- 0.04), it shows a complex activity pattern. Along with the discovery of the planets, we study the magnetic cycle and rotation of the star. HD 176986 proves to be suitable for testing the available RV analysis technique and further our understanding of stellar activity.

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arXiv2017

The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets XLII. A system of Earth-mass planets around the nearby M dwarf YZ Ceti

Exoplanet surveys have shown that systems with multiple low-mass planets on compact orbits are common. Except for few cases, however, the masses of these planets are generally unknown. At the very end of the main sequence, host stars have the lowest mass and hence offer the largest reflect motion for a given planet. In that context, we monitored the low-mass (0.13Msun) M dwarf YZ Cet (GJ 54.1, HIP 5643) intensively and obtained both radial velocities and stellar-activity indicators derived from both spectroscopy and photometry. We find strong evidence that it is orbited by at least three planets in compact orbits (P=1.97, 3.06, 4.66 days), with the inner two near a 2:3 mean-motion resonance. The minimum masses are comparable to that of Earth (Msini=0.75+-0.13, 0.98+-0.14, and 1.14+-0.17 Mearth) and also the lowest masses measured by radial velocity so far. We note the possibility for an even lower-mass, fourth planet with Msini=0.472+-0.096 Mearth at P=1.04 days. An n-body dynamical model is used to put further constraints on the system parameters. At 3.6 parsecs, YZ Cet is the nearest multi-planet system detected to date.

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arXiv2017

Precise masses for the transiting planetary system HD 106315 with HARPS

The multi-planetary system HD 106315 was recently found in K2 data . The planets have periods of $P_b \sim9.55$ and $P_c \sim 21.06\,$days, and radii of $ r_b = 2.44 \pm 0.17\, $ and $r_c = 4.35 \pm 0.23\, $ $R_{\oplus}$. The brightness of the host star (V=9.0 mag) makes it an excellent target for transmission spectroscopy. However, to interpret transmission spectra it is crucial to measure the planetary masses. We obtained high precision radial velocities for HD~106315 to determine the mass of the two transiting planets discovered with Kepler K2. Our successful observation strategy was carefully tailored to mitigate the effect of stellar variability. We modelled the new radial velocity data together with the K2 transit photometry and a new ground-based partial transit of HD 106315c to derive system parameters. We estimate the mass of HD 106315b to be 12.6 $\pm$ 3.2 $M_{\oplus}$ and the density to be $4.7 \pm 1.7\, g\,cm^{-3}$, while for HD 106315c we estimate a mass of 15.2 $\pm$ 3.7 $M_{\oplus}$ and a density of $1.01 \pm 0.29\, $g\,cm$^{-3}$. Hence, despite planet c having a radius almost twice as large as planet b, their masses are consistent with one another. We conclude that HD 106315c has a thick hydrogen-helium gaseous envelope. A detailed investigation of HD 106315b using a planetary interior model constrains the core mass fraction to be 5-29\%, and the water mass fraction to be 10-50\%. An alternative, not considered by our model, is that HD 106315b is composed of a large rocky core with a thick H-He envelope. Transmission spectroscopy of these planets will give insight into their atmospheric compositions and also help constrain their core compositions.

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arXiv2017

Detecting Proxima b's atmosphere with JWST targeting CO2 at 15 micron using a high-pass spectral filtering technique

Exoplanet Proxima b will be an important laboratory for the search for extraterrestrial life for the decades ahead. Here we discuss the prospects of detecting carbon dioxide at 15 um using a spectral filtering technique with the Medium Resolution Spectrograph (MRS) mode of the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). At superior conjunction, the planet is expected to show a contrast of up to 100 ppm with respect to the star. At a spectral resolving power of R=1790-2640, about 100 spectral CO2 features are visible within the 13.2-15.8 um (3B) band, which can be combined to boost the planet atmospheric signal by a factor 3-4, depending on the atmospheric temperature structure and CO2 abundance. If atmospheric conditions are favorable (assuming an Earth-like atmosphere), with this new application to the cross-correlation technique carbon dioxide can be detected within a few days of JWST observations. However, this can only be achieved if both the instrumental spectral response and the stellar spectrum can be determined to a relative precision of <= 1e-4 between adjacent spectral channels. Absolute flux calibration is not required, and the method is insensitive to the strong broadband variability of the host star. Precise calibration of the spectral features of the host star may only be attainable by obtaining deep observations of the system during inferior conjunction that serve as a reference. The high-pass filter spectroscopic technique with the MIRI MRS can be tested on warm Jupiters, Neptunes, and super-Earths with significantly higher planet/star contrast ratios than the Proxima system.

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arXiv2017

Characterization of the K2-18 multi-planetary system with HARPS: A habitable zone super-Earth and discovery of a second, warm super-Earth on a non-coplanar orbit

The bright M dwarf K2-18 at 34 pc is known to host a transiting super-Earth-sized planet orbiting within the star's habitable zone; K2-18b. Given the superlative nature of this system for studying an exoplanetary atmosphere receiving similar levels of insolation as the Earth, we aim to characterize the planet's mass which is required to interpret atmospheric properties and infer the planet's bulk composition. We obtain precision radial velocity measurements with the HARPS spectrograph and couple those measurements with the K2 photometry to jointly model the observed radial velocity variation with planetary signals and a radial velocity jitter model based on Gaussian process regression. We measure the mass of K2-18b to be $8.0 \pm 1.9$ M$_{\oplus}$ with a bulk density of $3.7 \pm 0.9$ g/cm$^3$ which may correspond to a predominantly rocky planet with a significant gaseous envelope or an ocean planet with a water mass fraction $\gtrsim 50$%. We also find strong evidence for a second, warm super-Earth K2-18c at $\sim 9$ days with a semi-major axis 2.4 times smaller than the transiting K2-18b. After re-analyzing the available light curves of K2-18 we conclude that K2-18c is not detected in transit and therefore likely has an orbit that is non-coplanar with K2-18b. A suite of dynamical integrations with varying simulated orbital eccentricities of the two planets are used to further constrain each planet's eccentricity posterior from which we measure $e_b < 0.43$ and $e_c < 0.47$ at 99% confidence. The discovery of the inner planet K2-18c further emphasizes the prevalence of multi-planet systems around M dwarfs. The characterization of the density of K2-18b reveals that the planet likely has a thick gaseous envelope which along with its proximity to the Solar system makes the K2-18 planetary system an interesting target for the atmospheric study of an exoplanet receiving Earth-like insolation.

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