arXiv subjects

Dimitar Sasselov

Publications and source records attributed to Dimitar Sasselov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Identifying Exoplanets with Deep Learning VI. Enhancing neural network mitigation of stellar activity RV signals with additional metrics

The measurement of exoplanet masses using the radial velocity (RV) technique is currently limited by stellar activity, which introduces quasiperiodic variability signals that must be modeled and removed to enhance the sensitivity of the RV measurements to exoplanet signals. Neural networks have previously been demonstrated effective in modeling stellar activity signals in HARPS-N solar data using white light cross correlation functions (CCFs). Building on this work, we train a neural network on six years of HARPS-N solar data with additional parameters commonly associated to stellar activity, including chromatic CCFs, line shape metrics, spectral activity indicators, total solar irradiance (TSI) light curves from SORCE and TSIS-1, and TSI time derivatives. Our results show that parameters such as the bisector inverse slope and Na D equivalent widths do not significantly improve the neural network's ability to predict activity-induced RV variations compared to using the white light CCFs alone. However, parameters such as unsigned magnetic flux, the TSI and its time derivative, S-index, H-alpha equivalent width, chromatic CCFs, contrast, and full width at half maximum do improve the neural network's ability to predict RV scatter. Our new model reduces the RV scatter in a held-out test set from 147.1 cm/s to 93.3 cm/s, consistent with supergranulation noise levels reported in previous studies. These results suggest that finding effective tracers for (super)granulation will be critical to train models capable of further mitigating RV jitter, and necessary for characterizing Earth analogues.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2025

Applied Astrobiology: An Integrated Approach to the Future of Life in Space

Searching for extraterrestrial life and supporting human life in space are traditionally regarded as separate challenges. However, there are significant benefits to an approach that treats them as different aspects of the same essential inquiry: How can we conceptualize life beyond our home planet?

physics.pop-ph↗

arXiv2023

Masses, Revised Radii, and a Third Planet Candidate in the "Inverted" Planetary System Around TOI-1266

Is the population of close-in planets orbiting M dwarfs sculpted by thermally driven escape or is it a direct outcome of the planet formation process? A number of recent empirical results strongly suggest the latter. However, the unique architecture of the TOI-1266 system presents a challenge to models of planet formation and atmospheric escape given its seemingly "inverted" architecture of a large sub-Neptune ($P_b=10.9$ days, $R_{p,b}=2.62\pm 0.11\, \mathrm{R}_{\oplus}$) orbiting interior to that of the system's smaller planet ($P_c=18.8$ days, $R_{p,c}=2.13\pm 0.12\, \mathrm{R}_{\oplus}$). Here we present revised planetary radii based on new TESS and diffuser-assisted ground-based transit observations, and characterize both planetary masses using a set of 145 radial velocity measurements from HARPS-N ($M_{p,b}=4.23\pm 0.69\, \mathrm{M}_{\oplus}, M_{p,c}=2.88\pm 0.80\, \mathrm{M}_{\oplus}$). Our analysis also reveals a third planet candidate ($P_d=32.3$ days, $M_{p,d}\sin{i} = 4.59^{+0.96}_{-0.94}\, \mathrm{M}_{\oplus}$), which if real, would form a chain of near 5:3 period ratios, although the system is likely not in a mean motion resonance. Our results indicate that TOI-1266 b and c are among the lowest density sub-Neptunes around M dwarfs and likely exhibit distinct bulk compositions of a gas-enveloped terrestrial ($X_{\mathrm{env},b}=5.5\pm 0.7$%) and a water-rich world (WMF$_c=59\pm 14$%), which is supported by hydrodynamic escape models. If distinct bulk compositions are confirmed through atmospheric characterization, the system's unique architecture would represent an interesting test case of inside-out sub-Neptune formation at pebble traps.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2023

Discovery of Spherules of Likely Extrasolar Composition in the Pacific Ocean Site of the CNEOS 2014-01-08 (IM1) Bolide

We have conducted an extensive towed-magnetic-sled survey during the period 14-28 June, 2023, over the seafloor centered around the calculated path of the bolide CNEOS 2014-01-08 (IM1) about 85 km north of Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. We found about 700 spherules of diameter 0.05-1.3 millimeters in our samples, of which 57 were analyzed so far. The spherules were significantly concentrated along the expected meteor path. Mass spectrometry of 47 spherules near the high-yield regions along IM1's path reveals a distinct extra-solar abundance pattern for 5 of them, while background spherules have abundances consistent with a solar system origin. The unique spherules show an excess of Be, La and U, by up to three orders of magnitude relative to the solar system standard of CI chondrites. These "BeLaU"-type spherules, never seen before, also have very low refractory siderophile elements such as Re. Volatile elements, such as Mn, Zn, Pb, are depleted as expected from evaporation losses during a meteor's airburst. In addition, the mass-dependent variations in $^{57}$Fe/$^{54}$Fe and $^{56}$Fe/$^{54}$Fe are also consistent with evaporative loss of the light isotopes during the spherules' travel in the atmosphere. The "BeLaU" abundance pattern is not found in control regions outside of IM1's path and does not match commonly manufactured alloys or natural meteorites in the solar system. This evidence points towards an association of "BeLaU"-type spherules with IM1, supporting its interstellar origin independently of the high velocity and unusual material strength implied from the CNEOS data. We suggest that the "BeLaU" abundance pattern could have originated from a highly differentiated magma ocean of a planet with an iron core outside the solar system or from more exotic sources.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2023

TOI-1695 b: A Water World Orbiting an Early M Dwarf in the Planet Radius Valley

Characterizing the bulk compositions of transiting exoplanets within the M dwarf radius valley offers a unique means to establish whether the radius valley emerges from an atmospheric mass loss process or is imprinted by planet formation itself. We present the confirmation of such a planet orbiting an early M dwarf ($T_{\rm mag} = 11.0294 \pm 0.0074, M_s = 0.513 \pm 0.012\ M_\odot, R_s = 0.515 \pm 0.015\ R_\odot, T_{\rm eff} =3690\pm 50 K$): TOI-1695 b ($P = 3.13$ days, $R_p = 1.90^{+0.16}_{-0.14}\ R_\oplus$). TOI-1695 b's radius and orbital period situate the planet between model predictions from thermally-driven mass loss versus gas depleted formation, offering an important test case for radius valley emergence models around early M dwarfs. We confirm the planetary nature of TOI-1695 b based on five sectors of TESS data and a suite of follow-up observations including 49 precise radial velocity measurements taken with the HARPS-N spectrograph. We measure a planetary mass of $6.36 \pm 1.00\ M_\oplus$, which reveals that TOI-1695 b is inconsistent with a purely terrestrial composition of iron and magnesium silicate, and instead is likely a water-rich planet. Our finding that TOI-1695 b is not terrestrial is inconsistent with the planetary system being sculpted by thermally driven mass loss. We present a statistical analysis of seven well-characterized planets within the M dwarf radius valley demonstrating that a thermally-driven mass loss scenario is unlikely to explain this population.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2022

Independent validation of the temperate Super-Earth HD79211 b using HARPS-N

We present high-precision radial velocities (RVs) from the HARPS-N spectrograph for HD79210 and HD79211, two M0V members of a gravitationally-bound binary system. We detect a planet candidate with a period of $24.421^{+0.016}_{-0.017}$ days around HD79211 in these HARPS-N RVs, validating the planet candidate originally identified in CARMENES RV data alone. Using HARPS-N, CARMENES and HIRES RVs spanning a total of 25 years, we further refine the planet candidate parameters to $P=24.422\pm0.014$ days, $K=3.19\pm0.27$ m/s, $M$ sin $i = 10.6 \pm 1.2 M_\oplus$, and $a = 0.142 \pm0.005$ au. We do not find any additional planet candidate signals in the data of HD79211 nor do we find any planet candidate signals in HD79210. This system adds to the number of exoplanets detected in binaries with M dwarf members, and serves as a case study for planet formation in stellar binaries.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2022

Identifying Exoplanets with Deep Learning. IV. Removing Stellar Activity Signals from Radial Velocity Measurements Using Neural Networks

Exoplanet detection with precise radial velocity (RV) observations is currently limited by spurious RV signals introduced by stellar activity. We show that machine learning techniques such as linear regression and neural networks can effectively remove the activity signals (due to starspots/faculae) from RV observations. Previous efforts focused on carefully filtering out activity signals in time using modeling techniques like Gaussian Process regression (e.g. Haywood et al. 2014). Instead, we systematically remove activity signals using only changes to the average shape of spectral lines, and no information about when the observations were collected. We trained our machine learning models on both simulated data (generated with the SOAP 2.0 software; Dumusque et al. 2014) and observations of the Sun from the HARPS-N Solar Telescope (Dumusque et al. 2015; Phillips et al. 2016; Collier Cameron et al. 2019). We find that these techniques can predict and remove stellar activity from both simulated data (improving RV scatter from 82 cm/s to 3 cm/s) and from more than 600 real observations taken nearly daily over three years with the HARPS-N Solar Telescope (improving the RV scatter from 1.753 m/s to 1.039 m/s, a factor of ~ 1.7 improvement). In the future, these or similar techniques could remove activity signals from observations of stars outside our solar system and eventually help detect habitable-zone Earth-mass exoplanets around Sun-like stars.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2021

K2-79b and K2-222b: Mass measurements of two small exoplanets with periods beyond 10 days that overlap with periodic magnetic activity signals

We present mass and radius measurements of K2-79b and K2-222b, two transiting exoplanets orbiting active G-type stars. Their respective 10.99d and 15.39d orbital periods fall near periods of signals induced by stellar magnetic activity. The two signals might therefore interfere and lead to an inaccurate estimate of exoplanet mass. We present a method to mitigate these effects when radial velocity and activity indicator observations are available over multiple observing seasons and the orbital period of the exoplanet is known. We perform correlation and periodogram analyses on sub-sets composed of each target's two observing seasons, in addition to the full data sets. For both targets, these analyses reveal an optimal season with little to no interference at the orbital period of the known exoplanet. We make a confident mass detection of each exoplanet by confirming agreement between fits to the full radial velocity set and the optimal season. For K2-79b, we measure a mass of 11.8 $\pm$ 3.6 $M_{Earth}$ and a radius of 4.09 $\pm$ 0.17 $R_{Earth}$. For K2-222b, we measure a mass of 8.0 $\pm$ 1.8 $M_{Earth}$ and a radius of 2.35 $\pm$ 0.08 $R_{Earth}$. According to model predictions, K2-79b is a highly irradiated Uranus-analog and K2-222b hosts significant amounts of water ice. We also present an RV solution for a candidate second companion orbiting K2-222 at 147.5d.

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arXiv2020

The Occurrence of Rocky Habitable Zone Planets Around Solar-Like Stars from Kepler Data

We present occurrence rates for rocky planets in the habitable zones (HZ) of main-sequence dwarf stars based on the Kepler DR25 planet candidate catalog and Gaia-based stellar properties. We provide the first analysis in terms of star-dependent instellation flux, which allows us to track HZ planets. We define $η_\oplus$ as the HZ occurrence of planets with radius between 0.5 and 1.5 $R_\oplus$ orbiting stars with effective temperatures between 4800 K and 6300 K. We find that $η_\oplus$ for the conservative HZ is between $0.37^{+0.48}_{-0.21}$ (errors reflect 68\% credible intervals) and $0.60^{+0.90}_{-0.36}$ planets per star, while the optimistic HZ occurrence is between $0.58^{+0.73}_{-0.33}$ and $0.88^{+1.28}_{-0.51}$ planets per star. These bounds reflect two extreme assumptions about the extrapolation of completeness beyond orbital periods where DR25 completeness data are available. The large uncertainties are due to the small number of detected small HZ planets. We find similar occurrence rates using both a Poisson likelihood Bayesian analysis and Approximate Bayesian Computation. Our results are corrected for catalog completeness and reliability. Both completeness and the planet occurrence rate are dependent on stellar effective temperature. We also present occurrence rates for various stellar populations and planet size ranges. We estimate with $95\%$ confidence that, on average, the nearest HZ planet around G and K dwarfs is about 6 pc away, and there are about 4 HZ rocky planets around G and K dwarfs within 10 pc of the Sun.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

TOI-1235 b: a keystone super-Earth for testing radius valley emergence models around early M dwarfs

Small planets on close-in orbits tend to exhibit envelope mass fractions of either effectively zero or up to a few percent depending on their size and orbital period. Models of thermally-driven atmospheric mass loss and of terrestrial planet formation in a gas-poor environment make distinct predictions regarding the location of this rocky/non-rocky transition in period-radius space. Here we present the confirmation of TOI-1235 b ($P=3.44$ days, $r_p=1.738^{+0.087}_{-0.076}$ R$_{\oplus}$), a planet whose size and period are intermediate between the competing model predictions thus making the system an important test case for emergence models of the rocky/non-rocky transition around early M dwarfs ($R_s=0.630\pm 0.015$ R$_{\odot}$, $M_s=0.640\pm 0.016$ M$_{\odot}$). We confirm the TESS planet discovery using reconnaissance spectroscopy, ground-based photometry, high-resolution imaging, and a set of 38 precise radial-velocities from HARPS-N and HIRES. We measure a planet mass of $6.91^{+0.75}_{-0.85}$ M$_{\oplus}$, which implies an iron core mass fraction of $20^{+15}_{-12}$% in the absence of a gaseous envelope. The bulk composition of TOI-1235 b is therefore consistent with being Earth-like and we constrain a H/He envelope mass fraction to be $<0.5$% at 90% confidence. Our results are consistent with model predictions from thermally-driven atmospheric mass loss but not with gas-poor formation, suggesting that the former class of processes remain efficient at sculpting close-in planets around early M dwarfs. Our RV analysis also reveals a strong periodicity close to the first harmonic of the photometrically-determined stellar rotation period that we treat as stellar activity, despite other lines of evidence favoring a planetary origin ($P=21.8^{+0.9}_{-0.8}$ days, $m_p\sin{i}=13.0^{+3.8}_{-5.3}$ M$_{\oplus}$) that cannot be firmly ruled out by our data.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

A pair of TESS planets spanning the radius valley around the nearby mid-M dwarf LTT 3780

We present the confirmation of two new planets transiting the nearby mid-M dwarf LTT 3780 (TIC 36724087, TOI-732, $V=13.07$, $K_s=8.204$, $R_s$=0.374 R$_{\odot}$, $M_s$=0.401 M$_{\odot}$, d=22 pc). The two planet candidates are identified in a single TESS sector and are validated with reconnaissance spectroscopy, ground-based photometric follow-up, and high-resolution imaging. With measured orbital periods of $P_b=0.77$ days, $P_c=12.25$ days and sizes $r_{p,b}=1.33\pm 0.07$ R$_{\oplus}$, $r_{p,c}=2.30\pm 0.16$ R$_{\oplus}$, the two planets span the radius valley in period-radius space around low mass stars thus making the system a laboratory to test competing theories of the emergence of the radius valley in that stellar mass regime. By combining 63 precise radial-velocity measurements from HARPS and HARPS-N, we measure planet masses of $m_{p,b}=2.62^{+0.48}_{-0.46}$ M$_{\oplus}$ and $m_{p,c}=8.6^{+1.6}_{-1.3}$ M$_{\oplus}$, which indicates that LTT 3780b has a bulk composition consistent with being Earth-like, while LTT 3780c likely hosts an extended H/He envelope. We show that the recovered planetary masses are consistent with predictions from both photoevaporation and from core-powered mass loss models. The brightness and small size of LTT 3780, along with the measured planetary parameters, render LTT 3780b and c as accessible targets for atmospheric characterization of planets within the same planetary system and spanning the radius valley.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2019

Using HARPS-N to characterise the long-period planets in the PH-2 and Kepler-103 systems

We present confirmation of the planetary nature of PH-2b, as well as the first mass estimates for the two planets in the Kepler-103 system. PH-2b and Kepler-103c are both long-period and transiting, a sparsely-populated category of exoplanet. We use {\it Kepler} light-curve data to estimate a radius, and then use HARPS-N radial velocities to determine the semi-amplitude of the stellar reflex motion and, hence, the planet mass. For PH-2b we recover a 3.5-$σ$ mass estimate of $M_p = 109^{+30}_{-32}$ M$_\oplus$ and a radius of $R_p = 9.49\pm0.16$ R$_\oplus$. This means that PH-2b has a Saturn-like bulk density and is the only planet of this type with an orbital period $P > 200$ days that orbits a single star. We find that Kepler-103b has a mass of $M_{\text{p,b}} = 11.7^{+4.31}_{-4.72}$ M$_{\oplus}$ and Kepler-103c has a mass of $M_{\text{p,c}} = 58.5^{+11.2}_{-11.4}$ M$_{\oplus}$. These are 2.5$σ$ and 5$σ$ results, respectively. With radii of $R_{\text{p,b}} = 3.49^{+0.06}_{-0.05}$ R$_\oplus$, and $R_{\text{p,c}} = 5.45^{+0.18}_{-0.17}$ R$_\oplus$, these results suggest that Kepler-103b has a Neptune-like density, while Kepler-103c is one of the highest density planets with a period $P > 100$ days. By providing high-precision estimates for the masses of the long-period, intermediate-mass planets PH-2b and Kepler-103c, we increase the sample of long-period planets with known masses and radii, which will improve our understanding of the mass-radius relation across the full range of exoplanet masses and radii.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2019

The Revised TESS Input Catalog and Candidate Target List

We describe the catalogs assembled and the algorithms used to populate the revised TESS Input Catalog (TIC), based on the incorporation of the Gaia second data release. We also describe a revised ranking system for prioritizing stars for 2-minute cadence observations, and assemble a revised Candidate Target List (CTL) using that ranking. The TIC is available on the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) server, and an enhanced CTL is available through the Filtergraph data visualization portal system at the URL http://filtergraph.vanderbilt.edu/tess_ctl.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

K2-291 b: A rocky super-Earth in a 2.2 day orbit

K2-291 (EPIC 247418783) is a solar-type star with a radius of R_star = 0.899 $\pm$ 0.034 R_sun and mass of M_star=0.934 $\pm$ 0.038 M_sun. From K2 C13 data, we found one super-Earth planet (R_p = 1.589+0.095-0.072 R_Earth) transiting this star on a short period orbit (P = 2.225177 +6.6e-5 -6.8e-5 days). We followed this system up with adaptive-optic imaging and spectroscopy to derive stellar parameters, search for stellar companions, and determine a planet mass. From our 75 radial velocity measurements using HIRES on Keck I and HARPS-N on Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, we constrained the mass of EPIC 247418783b to M_p = 6.49 $\pm$ 1.16 M_Earth. We found it necessary to model correlated stellar activity radial velocity signals with a Gaussian process in order to more accurately model the effect of stellar noise on our data; the addition of the Gaussian process also improved the precision of this mass measurement. With a bulk density of 8.84+2.50-2.03 g cm-3, the planet is consistent with an Earth-like rock/iron composition and no substantial gaseous envelope. Such an envelope, if it existed in the past, was likely eroded away by photo-evaporation during the first billion years of the star's lifetime.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2019

A giant impact as the likely origin of different twins in the Kepler-107 exoplanet system

Measures of exoplanet bulk densities indicate that small exoplanets with radius less than 3 Earth radii ($R_\oplus$) range from low-density sub-Neptunes containing volatile elements to higher density rocky planets with Earth-like or iron-rich (Mercury-like) compositions. Such astonishing diversity in observed small exoplanet compositions may be the product of different initial conditions of the planet-formation process and/or different evolutionary paths that altered the planetary properties after formation. Planet evolution may be especially affected by either photoevaporative mass loss induced by high stellar X-ray and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) flux or giant impacts. Although there is some evidence for the former, there are no unambiguous findings so far about the occurrence of giant impacts in an exoplanet system. Here, we characterize the two innermost planets of the compact and near-resonant system Kepler-107. We show that they have nearly identical radii (about $1.5-1.6~R_\oplus$), but the outer planet Kepler-107c is more than twice as dense (about $12.6~\rm g\,cm^{-3}$) as the innermost Kepler-107b (about $5.3~\rm g\,cm^{-3}$). In consequence, Kepler-107c must have a larger iron core fraction than Kepler-107b. This imbalance cannot be explained by the stellar XUV irradiation, which would conversely make the more-irradiated and less-massive planet Kepler-107b denser than Kepler-107c. Instead, the dissimilar densities are consistent with a giant impact event on Kepler-107c that would have stripped off part of its silicate mantle. This hypothesis is supported by theoretical predictions from collisional mantle stripping, which match the mass and radius of Kepler-107c.

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arXiv2018

Visible-spanning flat supercontinuum for astronomical applications

We demonstrate a broad, flat, visible supercontinuum spectrum that is generated by a dispersion-engineered tapered photonic crystal fiber pumped by a 1 GHz repetition rate turn-key Ti:sapphire laser outputting $\sim$ 30 fs pulses at 800 nm. At a pulse energy of 100 pJ, we obtain an output spectrum that is flat to within 3 dB over the range 490-690 nm with a blue tail extending below 450 nm. The mode-locked laser combined with the photonic crystal fiber forms a simple visible frequency comb system that is extremely well-suited to the precise calibration of astrophysical spectrographs, among other applications.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2018

Insights into the inner regions of the FU Orionis disc

Context. We investigate small-amplitude light variations in FU Ori occurring in timescales of days and weeks. Aims. We seek to determine the mechanisms that lead to these light changes. Methods. The visual light curve of FU Ori gathered by the MOST satellite continuously for 55 days in the 2013-2014 winter season and simultaneously obtained ground-based multi-colour data were compared with the results from a disc and star light synthesis model. Results. Hotspots on the star are not responsible for the majority of observed light variations. Instead, we found that the long periodic family of 10.5-11.4 d (presumably) quasi-periods showing light variations up to 0.07 mag may arise owing to the rotational revolution of disc inhomogeneities located between 16-20 solar radii. The same distance is obtained by assuming that these light variations arise because of a purely Keplerian revolution of these inhomogeneities for a stellar mass of 0.7 solar mass. The short-periodic (3-1.38 d) small amplitude (0.01 mag) light variations show a clear sign of period shortening, similar to what was discovered in the first MOST observations of FU Ori. Our data indicate that these short-periodic oscillations may arise because of changing visibility of plasma tongues (not included in our model), revolving in the magnetospheric gap and/or likely related hotspots as well. Conclusions. Results obtained for the long-periodic 10-11 d family of light variations appear to be roughly in line with the colour-period relation, which assumes that longer periods are produced by more external and cooler parts of the disc. Coordinated observations in a broad spectral range are still necessary to fully understand the nature of the short-periodic 1-3 d family of light variations and their period changes.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

A New Desalination Pump Help Define the pH of Ocean Worlds

We study ocean exoplanets, for which the global surface ocean is separated from the rocky interior by a high-pressure ice mantle. We describe a mechanism that can pump salts out of the ocean, resulting in oceans of very low salinity. Here we focus on the H2O-NaCl system, though we discuss the application of this pump to other salts as well. We find our ocean worlds to be acidic, with a pH in the range of 2-4. We discuss and compare between the conditions found within our studied oceans and the conditions in which polyextremophiles were discovered. This work focuses on exoplanets in the super-Earth mass range (2 M_Earth), with water composing at least a few percent of their mass. Although, the principal of the desalination pump may extend beyond this mass range.

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