arXiv subjects

Jacob L. Bean

Publications and source records attributed to Jacob L. Bean.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

The JWST Rocky Worlds DDT Program reveals GJ 3929b to likely be a bare rock

We report first results from the JWST Rocky Worlds Director's Discretionary Time program. Two secondary eclipses of the terrestrial exoplanet GJ 3929b were recently observed using MIRI photometric imaging at 15 um. We present a reduction of these data using the updated SPARTA pipeline. We also refine the planet mass, radius, and predicted time of secondary eclipse using a new sector of TESS data and new, high-precision radial velocities from the MAROON-X spectrograph. For the two JWST observations, we recover secondary eclipse depths of 177+47-45ppm and 143+34-35ppm at times consistent with a nearly circular orbit, as expected from the radial velocity data. A joint fit of the two visits yields a dayside brightness temperature Tp,dayside = 782+/-79K for GJ 3929b, which is consistent with the maximum brightness temperature Tmax = 737+/-14K for a bare, black rock (i.e., assuming zero Bond albedo and no heat redistribution). These results rule out CO2-rich atmospheres thicker than 100mbar at >3sigma, suggesting that GJ 3929b has lost any significant secondary atmosphere. The radial velocity data also indicate two additional non-transiting planets in the system: a previously-identified planet in a 15.0d orbit, and a newly-identified planet candidate in a 6.1d orbit.

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arXiv2025

A metal-poor atmosphere with a hot interior for a young sub-Neptune progenitor: JWST/NIRSpec transmission spectrum of V1298 Tau b

We present the JWST/NIRSpec G395H transmission spectrum of the young (10 - 20 Myr old) transiting planet V1298 Tau b (9.85+/-0.35 Re, Teq=670K). Combined HST and JWST observations reveal a haze free, H/He dominated atmosphere with a large scale height (~1500km), allowing detection of CO2 (35 sigma), H2O (30 sigma), CO (10 sigma), CH4 (6 sigma), SO2 (4 sigma) and OCS (3.5 sigma). Our observations probe several scale heights (~4.4 in the CO2 4.3 microns and ~3 in the 2.7 micron water band). The planet's mass, inferred from atmospheric scale height using free retrieval and grid modelling is 12+/-1 and 15+/-1.7Me respectively which is significantly lower than previous radial velocity estimates and confirm it as a 'gas-dwarf' sub-Neptune progenitor. We find an atmospheric super-solar metallicity (logZ=0.6^+0.4_-0.6 x solar) and a sub-solar C/O ratio (0.22^+0.06_-0.05). The atmospheric metallicity is low compared to matured sub-Neptunes by an order of magnitude. The CH4 abundance ([CH4]=-6.2^+0.3_-0.5) is ~7 sigma lower than equilibrium chemistry prediction. To adjust for the low methane abundance, the self-consistent grids favour a high internal temperature (~500K) and vertical mixing (Kzz ~10^7-10^8 cm2/s). These internal temperatures are inconsistent with predictions from evolutionary models, which expect ~100 - 200K at the current system age. We estimate a gas-to-core mass fraction between 0.1 - 8 %, with a core mass of 11 - 12 Me, consistent with in-situ gas dwarf formation. A deep atmospheric metallicity gradient may explain both the high internal temperature and low observable metallicity. Over time, mass loss from such an atmosphere could enhance its metallicity, potentially reconciling V1298 Tau b with mature sub-Neptunes.

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arXiv2025

The Roasting Marshmallows Program with IGRINS on Gemini South III: Seeing deeper into the metal depleted atmosphere of a gas-giant on the cusp of the hot to ultra-hot Jupiter transition

Ultra-hot Jupiters are a class of gas-giant exoplanets that show a peculiar combination of thermochemical properties in the form of molecular dissociation, atomic ionization, and inverted thermal structures. Atmospheric characterization of gas giants lying in the transitional regime between hot and ultra-hot Jupiters can help in understanding the physical mechanisms that cause the fundamental transition in atmospheres between the two classes of hot gas giants. Using Doppler spectroscopy with IGRINS on Gemini South (1.4 to 2.5 $μ$m), we present the day-side high-resolution spectrum of WASP-122b (T$_{\mathrm{day}}$=2258$ \pm$ 54 K), a gas-giant situated at this transition. We detect the signal from H$_{2}$O, based on which we find that WASP-122b has a significantly metal-depleted atmosphere with metallicity log$_{10}$[Z$_{\mathrm{P}}$/Z$_{\odot}$] = $-$1.48$\pm$0.25 dex (0.033$_{-0.016}^{+0.018}$ $\times$ solar), and solar/sub-solar C/O ratio = 0.36$\pm$0.22 (3$σ$ upper limit 0.82). Drastically low atmospheric metallicity pushes the contribution function to higher pressures, resulting in the planetary spectral lines to originate from a narrow region around 1 bar where the thermal profile is non-inverted. This is inconsistent with solar composition radiative convective equilibrium (RCTE) which predicts an inverted atmosphere with spectral lines in emission. The sub-solar metallicity and solar/sub-solar C/O ratio is inconsistent with expectations from core-accretion. We find the planetary signal to be significantly shifted in K$_{\mathrm{P}}$ and V$_{\mathrm{sys}}$, which is in tension with the predictions from global circulation models and require further investigation. Our results highlight the detailed information content of high-resolution spectroscopy data and their ability to constrain complex atmospheric thermal structures and compositions of exoplanets.

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arXiv2025

An Aligned Sub-Neptune Revealed with MAROON-X and a Tendency Towards Alignment for Small Planets

We present the Rossiter-McLaughlin measurement of the sub-Neptune TOI-1759A b with MAROON-X. A joint analysis with MuSCAT3 photometry and nine additional TESS transits produces a sky-projected obliquity of $|λ|$= $4^\circ\pm18^{\circ}$. We also derive a true obliquity of $ψ$=24$\pm12^{\circ}$ making this planet consistent with full alignment albeit to $<1σ$. With a period of 18.85 days and an $a/R_{*}$ of 40, TOI-1759A b is the longest period single sub-Neptune to have a measured obliquity. It joins a growing number of smaller planets which have had this measurement made and, along with K2-25 b, is the only single, aligned sub-Neptune known to date. We also provide an overview of the emerging distribution of obliquity measurements for planets with R$<8$ R$_{\oplus}$. We find that these types of planets tend toward alignment, especially the sub-Neptunes and super-Earths implying a dynamically cool formation history. The majority of misaligned planets in this category have 4$<$R$\leq$8 R$_{\oplus}$ and are more likely to be isolated than planets rather than in compact systems. We find this result to be significant at the $3σ$ level, consistent with previous studies. In addition, we conduct injection and recovery testing on available archival radial velocity data to put limits on the presence of massive companions in these systems. Current archival data is insufficient for most systems to have detected a giant planet.

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arXiv2025

Population-level Hypothesis Testing with Rocky Planet Emission Data: A Tentative Trend in the Brightness Temperatures of M-Earths

Determining which rocky exoplanets have atmospheres, and why, is a key goal for the James Webb Space Telescope. So far, emission observations of individual rocky exoplanets orbiting M stars (M-Earths) have not provided definitive evidence for atmospheres. Here, we synthesize emission data for M-Earths and find a trend in measured brightness temperatures (ratioed to its theoretical maximum value) as a function of instellation. However, the statistical evidence of this trend is dependent on the choice of stellar model, and we consider its identification tentative. We show that this trend can be explained by either the onset of thin/tenuous (<1 bar) CO2-rich atmospheres on colder worlds, or a population of bare rocks with stronger space weathering and/or coarser regolith on closer-in worlds. Such grain coarsening may be caused by sintering near the melting point of rock or frequent volcanic resurfacing. Furthermore, we highlight considerations when testing rocky planet hypotheses at the population level, including the choice of instrument, stellar modeling, and how brightness temperatures are derived. We also find that fresh (unweathered) fine-grained surfaces can serve as a false positive to the detection of moderate atmospheric heat redistribution through eclipse observations. However, we argue that such surfaces are unlikely given the ubiquity of space weathering in the Solar System, the low albedo of Solar System airless bodies, and the high stellar wind environments of M-Earths. Emission data from a larger sample of M-Earths will be able to confirm or reject this tentative trend and diagnose its cause through spectral characterization.

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arXiv2025

The radiative effects of photochemical hazes on the atmospheric circulation and phase curves of sub-Neptunes

Measuring the atmospheric composition of hazy sub-Neptunes like GJ~1214b through transmission spectroscopy is difficult because of the degeneracy between mean molecular weight and haziness. It has been proposed that phase curve observations can break this degeneracy because of the relationship between mean molecular weight (MMW) and phase curve amplitude. However, photochemical hazes can strongly affect phase curve amplitudes as well. We present a large set of GCM simulations of the sub-Neptune GJ~1214b that include photochemical hazes with varying atmospheric composition, haze opacity and haze optical properties. In our simulations, photochemical hazes cause temperature changes of up to 200~K, producing thermal inversions and cooling deeper regions. This results in increased phase curve amplitudes and adds a considerable scatter to the phase curve amplitude--metallicity relationship. However, we find that if the haze production rate is high enough to significantly alter the phase curve, the secondary eclipse spectrum will exhibit either emission features or strongly muted absorption features. Thus, the combination of a white-light phase curve and a secondary eclipse spectrum can successfully distinguish between a hazy, lower MMW and a clear, high MMW scenario.

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arXiv2025

Clouds and Hazes in GJ 1214b's Metal-Rich Atmosphere

The sub-Neptune GJ 1214b has an infamously flat transmission spectrum, likely due to thick aerosols in its atmosphere. A recent JWST MIRI spectroscopic phase curve of GJ 1214 b added to this picture, suggesting a highly reflective and metal-rich atmosphere. Using a 3D General Circulation Model with both photochemical hazes and condensate clouds, we characterize how different aerosol types affect the atmospheric structure of GJ 1214 b and manifest in its spectroscopic phase curve. Additionally, we reanalyze the original GJ 1214 b JWST phase curve. The reanalysis shows a hotter nightside, similar dayside temperature, and a lower, but still elevated, Bond albedo (0.42 +/- 0.11) than the original results. We find that a scenario with both clouds and hazes is most consistent with the JWST phase curve. Reflective clouds or hazes are needed to explain the large Bond albedo, and hazes or a super-solar metallicity help account for the several hundred Kelvin day-night temperature difference measured by the phase curve.

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arXiv2025

An Analysis of Spitzer Phase Curves for WASP-121b and WASP-77Ab

We present analyses of Spitzer InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC) 3.6 $μ$m and 4.5 $μ$m phase curve observations of hot Jupiters WASP-77Ab and WASP-121b. For WASP-121b, we find amplitudes of 1771 $\pm$ 95 ppm (3.6 $μ$m) and 2048 $\pm$ 109 ppm (4.5 $μ$m), and near-zero offsets of -0.78 $\pm$ 1.87$^{\circ}$ (3.6 $μ$m) and 0.42 $\pm$ 1.74$^{\circ}$ (4.5 $μ$m), consistent within 2.2$σ$ and 1.3$σ$, respectively, with JWST NIRSpec results. For WASP-77Ab, we find amplitudes of 535 $\pm$ 52 ppm (3.6 $μ$m) and 919 $\pm$ 40 ppm (4.5 $μ$m), and offsets of 33.45 $\pm$ 2.79$^{\circ}$ (3.6 $μ$m) and 16.28 $\pm$ 2.52$^{\circ}$ (4.5 $μ$m). We report day- and nightside brightness temperatures: for WASP-121b, 2779 $\pm$ 40 K (3.6 $μ$m) and 2905 $\pm$ 51 K (4.5 $μ$m) (day) and 1259 $\pm$ 67 K (3.6 $μ$m) and 1349 $\pm$ 54 K (4.5 $μ$m) (night), and for WASP-77Ab, 1876 $\pm$ 23 K (3.6 $μ$m) and 1780 $\pm$ 25 K (day) and 1501 $\pm$ 22 K (3.6 $μ$m) and 1234 $\pm$ 20 K (4.5 $μ$m) (night). Comparing WASP-121b data to general circulation models, we find evidence for drag inhibiting day-to-night heat transfer, which our model reproduces using magnetic circulation. Further, comparing both planets' data to Energy Balance Models, we show suppressed circulation in WASP-121b and potential evidence for an unusually high Bond albedo in WASP-77Ab. We add both planets to the Spitzer population study of previously identified trends in offset versus orbital period, finding that a positive trend is weakened, but not eliminated, by including these planets.

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arXiv2025

Four sub-Earth planets orbiting Barnard's Star from MAROON-X and ESPRESSO

Barnard's Star is an old, single M dwarf star that comprises the second-closest extrasolar system. It has a long history of claimed planet detections from both radial velocities and astrometry. However, none of these claimed detections have so far withstood further scrutiny. Continuing this story, extreme precision radial velocity (EPRV) measurements from the ESPRESSO instrument have recently been used to identify four new sub-Earth-mass planet candidates around Barnard's Star. We present here 112 radial velocities of Barnard's Star from the MAROON-X instrument that were obtained independently to search for planets around this compelling object. The data have a typical precision of 30\,cm\,s$^{-1}$ and are contemporaneous with the published ESPRESSO measurements (2021 -- 2023). The MAROON-X data on their own confirm planet b ($P$\,=\,3.154\,d) and planet candidates c and d ($P$\,=\,4.124\,d and 2.340\,d, respectively). Furthermore, adding the MAROON-X data to the ESPRESSO data strengthens the evidence for planet candidate e ($P$\,=\,6.739\,d), thus leading to its confirmation. The signals from all four planets are $<$50\,cm\,s$^{-1}$, the minimum masses of the planets range from 0.19 to 0.34\,$M_{\oplus}$, and the system is among the most compact known among late M dwarfs hosting low-mass planets. The current data rule out planets with masses $>0.57\,M_{\oplus}$ (with a $99\%$ detection probability) in Barnard Star's habitable zone ($P$\,=\,10 -- 42\,d).

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arXiv2025

Constraining atmospheric composition from the outflow: helium observations reveal the fundamental properties of two planets straddling the radius gap

TOI-836 is a ~2-3 Gyr K dwarf with an inner super Earth ($R=1.7 R_\oplus$, $P=3.8$ d) and an outer mini Neptune ($R=2.6 R_\oplus$, $P=8.6$ d). JWST/NIRSpec 2.8--5.2 $μ$m transmission spectra are flat for both planets. We present Keck/NIRSPEC observations of escaping helium for super-Earth b, which shows no excess absorption in the 1083 nm triplet to deep limits (<0.2%), and mini-Neptune c, which shows strong (0.7%) excess absorption in both visits. These results demonstrate that planet c retains at least some primordial atmosphere, while planet b is consistent with having lost its entire primordial envelope. Self-consistent 1D radiative-hydrodynamic models of planet c reveal that the helium excess absorption signal is highly sensitive to metallicity: its equivalent width collapses by a factor of 13 as metallicity increases from 10x to 100x solar, and by a further factor of 12 as it increases to 200x solar. The observed equivalent width is 88% the model prediction for 100x metallicity, suggesting an atmospheric metallicity similar to K2-18b and TOI-270d, the first two mini-Neptunes with detected absorption features in JWST transmission spectra. We highlight the helium triplet as a potentially powerful probe of atmospheric composition, with complementary strengths and weaknesses to atmospheric retrievals. The main strength is its extreme sensitivity to metallicity in the scientifically significant range of 10--200x solar, and the main weakness is the enormous model uncertainties in outflow suppression and confinement mechanisms, such as magnetic fields and stellar winds, which can suppress the signal by at least a factor of ~several.

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arXiv2025

Calibrating the Instrumental Drift in MAROON-X using an Ensemble Analysis

MAROON-X is a state-of-the-art extreme precision radial velocity spectrograph deployed on the 8.1-meter Gemini-N telescope on Maunakea, Hawai'i. Using a stabilized Fabry-Pérot etalon for wavelength and drift calibration, MAROON-X has achieved a short-term precision of $\sim$\,30\,cm\,s$^{-1}$. However, due to a long-term drift in the etalon (2.2\,cm\,s$^{-1}$ per day) and various interruptions of the instrument baseline over the first few years of operation, MAROON-X experiences RV offsets between observing runs several times larger than the short-term precision during any individual run, which hinders the detection of longer-period signals. In this study, we analyze RV measurements of 11 targets that either exhibit small RV scatter or have signals that can be precisely constrained using Keplerian or Gaussian Process models. Leveraging this ensemble, we calibrate MAROON-X's run offsets for data collected between September 2020 and early January 2024 to a precision of $\sim$0.5\,m\,s$^{-1}$. When applying these calibrated offsets to HD 3651, a quiet star, we obtain residual velocities with an RMS of $<$70\,cm\,s$^{-1}$ in both the Red and Blue channels of MAROON-X over a baseline of 29 months. We also demonstrate the sensitivity of MAROON-X data calibrated with these offsets through a series of injection-recovery tests. Based on our findings, MAROON-X is capable of detecting sub m\,s$^{-1}$ signals out to periods of more than 1,000 days.

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arXiv2025

Detectability of Emission from Exoplanet Outflows Calculated by pyTPCI, a New 1D Radiation-Hydrodynamic Code

Photoevaporation in exoplanet atmospheres is thought to contribute to the shaping of the small planet radius valley. Escaping atmospheres have been detected in transmission across a variety of exoplanet types, from hot Jupiters to mini-Neptunes. However, no work has yet considered whether outflows might also be detectable in emission. We introduce pyTPCI, a new, open-source self-consistent 1D radiative-hydrodynamics code that is an improved version of The PLUTO-CLOUDY Interface. We use pyTPCI to model seven exoplanets (HD 189733b, HD 209458b, WASP-69b, WASP-107b, TOI-1430b, TOI-560b, and HAT-P-32b) at varying metallicities and compute their emission spectra to investigate their detectability across a variety of spectral lines. We calculate the eclipse depths and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) of these lines for a 10m class telescope with a high-resolution spectrograph, taking into account appropriate line broadening mechanisms. We show that the most detectable spectral lines tend to be the 589 nm Na I doublet and the 1083 nm metastable helium triplet. Halpha and Mg I 457 nm are moderately strong for some planets at some metallicities, but they are almost always optically thin, so some of their emission may not be from the outflow. The planet with the highest-flux, highest-eclipse-depth, and highest-SNR lines is HD 189733b, with a Na I eclipse depth of 410 ppm and SNR of 2.4 per eclipse, and a He* eclipse depth of 170 ppm and SNR of 1.3. These signals would be marginally detectable with Keck if 3-10 eclipses were observed, assuming (over-optimistically) photon limited observations.

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arXiv2025

Peering into the black box: forward-modeling the uncertainty budget of high-resolution spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres

Ground-based high-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy (HRCCS; R >~ 15,000) is a powerful complement to space-based studies of exoplanet atmospheres. By resolving individual spectral lines, HRCCS can precisely measure chemical abundance ratios, directly constrain atmospheric dynamics, and robustly probe multidimensional physics. But the subtleties of HRCCS datasets -- e.g., the lack of exoplanetary spectra visible by eye and the statistically complex process of telluric removal -- can make interpreting them difficult. In this work, we seek to clarify the uncertainty budget of HRCCS with a forward-modeling approach. We present a HRCCS observation simulator, scope (https://github.com/arjunsavel/scope), that incorporates spectral contributions from the exoplanet, star, tellurics, and instrument. This tool allows us to control the underlying dataset, enabling controlled experimentation with complex HRCCS methods. Simulating a fiducial hot Jupiter dataset (WASP-77Ab emission with IGRINS), we first confirm via multiple tests that the commonly used principal components analysis does not bias the planetary signal when few components are used. Furthermore, we demonstrate that mildly varying tellurics and moderate wavelength solution errors induce only mild decreases in HRCCS detection significance. However, limiting-case, strongly varying tellurics can bias the retrieved velocities and gas abundances. Additionally, in the low-SNR limit, constraints on gas abundances become highly non-Gaussian. Our investigation of the uncertainties and potential biases inherent in HRCCS data analysis enables greater confidence in scientific results from this maturing method.

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arXiv2025

TOI-421 b: A Hot Sub-Neptune with a Haze-Free, Low Mean Molecular Weight Atmosphere

Common features of sub-Neptunes atmospheres observed to date include signatures of aerosols at moderate equilibrium temperatures (~500-800 K), and a prevalence of high mean molecular weight atmospheres, perhaps indicating novel classes of planets such as water worlds. Here we present a 0.83-5 micron JWST transmission spectrum of the sub-Neptune TOI-421 b. This planet is unique among previously observed counterparts in its high equilibrium temperature ($T_{eq} \approx 920$) and its Sun-like host star. We find marked differences between the atmosphere of TOI-421 b and those of sub-Neptunes previously characterized with JWST, which all orbit M stars. Specifically, water features in the NIRISS/SOSS bandpass indicate a low mean molecular weight atmosphere consistent with solar metallicity, and no appreciable aerosol coverage. Hints of SO$_2$ and CO (but not CO$_2$ or CH$_4$) also exist in our NIRSpec/G395M observations, but not at sufficient signal-to-noise to draw firm conclusions. Our results support a picture in which sub-Neptunes hotter than ~850 K do not form hydrocarbon hazes due to a lack of methane to photolyze. TOI-421 b additionally fits the paradigm of the radius valley for planets orbiting FGK stars being sculpted by mass loss processes, which would leave behind primordial atmospheres overlying rock/iron interiors. Further observations of TOI-421 b and similar hot sub-Neptunes will confirm whether haze-free atmospheres and low mean molecular weights are universal characteristics of such objects.

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arXiv2024

A dark, bare rock for TOI-1685 b from a JWST NIRSpec G395H phase curve

We report JWST NIRSpec/G395H observations of TOI-1685 b, a hot rocky super-Earth orbiting an M2.5V star, during a full orbit. We obtain transmission and emission spectra of the planet and characterize the properties of the phase curve, including its amplitude and offset. The transmission spectrum rules out clear H$_2$-dominated atmospheres, while secondary atmospheres (made of water, methane, or carbon dioxide) cannot be statistically distinguished from a flat line. The emission spectrum is featureless and consistent with a blackbody-like brightness temperature, helping rule out thick atmospheres with high mean molecular weight. Collecting all evidence, the properties of TOI-1685 b are consistent with a blackbody with no heat redistribution and a low albedo, with a dayside brightness temperature 0.98$\pm$0.07 times that of a perfect blackbody in the NIRSpec NRS2 wavelength range (3.823-5.172 um). Our results add to the growing number of seemingly airless M-star rocky planets, thus constraining the location of the "Cosmic Shoreline". Three independent data reductions have been carried out, all showing a high-amplitude correlated noise component in the white and spectroscopic light curves. The correlated noise properties are different between the NRS1 and NRS2 detectors - importantly the timescales of the strongest components (4.5 hours and 2.5 hours, respectively) - suggesting the noise is from instrumental rather than astrophysical origins. We encourage the community to look into the systematics of NIRSpec for long time-series observations.

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arXiv2024

First Comparative Exoplanetology Within a Transiting Multi-planet System: Comparing the atmospheres of V1298 Tau b and c

The V1298 Tau system (20-30Myr), is a benchmark young multi-planet system that provides the opportunity to perform comparative exoplanetology between planets orbiting the same star right after their formation. We present the first atmospheric comparison between two planets in the same transiting system: V1298 Tau b and V1298 Tau c. We derive constraints on the mass of planet b and c (<20M$_\oplus$ at 3$σ$ confidence level and $17_{-6}^{+13} M_{\oplus}$ respectively) and atmospheric metallicity (logZ/Z$_\odot$=-2.04$_{-0.59}^{0.69}$, -0.16$_{-0.94}^{1.15}$ respectively) from atmospheric retrievals. The V1298 Tau planets, are likely to be similar in terms of mass at the current age, implying that both planets are potential sub-Neptune/super-Earth progenitors. However, planet c is expected to lose a higher fraction of its mass compared to planet b given its close proximity to the host star. Alternatively, the observed spectrum of planet c can be explained by atmospheric hazes, which is in contrast to planet b where efficient haze formation can be ruled out. Higher haze formation efficiency in planet c could be due to differences in atmospheric composition, temperature and higher UV flux incident compared to planet b.

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arXiv2024

Retrievals on NIRCam transmission and emission spectra of HD 189733b with PLATON 6, a GPU code for the JWST era

We present the 2.4--5.0 \um JWST/NIRCam emission spectrum of HD 189733b, along with an independent re-reduction of the previously published transmission spectrum at the same wavelengths. We use an upgraded version of PLanetary Atmospheric Tool for Observer Noobs (PLATON) to retrieve atmospheric parameters from both geometries. In transit, we obtain [M/H]=$0.53_{-0.12}^{+0.13}$ and C/O=$0.41_{-0.12}^{+0.13}$, assuming a power-law haze and equilibrium chemistry with methane depletion. In eclipse, we obtain [M/H]=$0.68_{-0.11}^{+0.15}$ and C/O=$0.43_{-0.05}^{+0.06}$, assuming a clear atmosphere and equilibrium chemistry without methane depletion. These results are consistent with each other, and with a re-run of our previously published joint retrieval of HST and Spitzer transmission and emission spectra. Accounting for methane depletion decreases the C/O ratio by 0.14/0.04 (transmission/emission), but changing the limb cloud parameterization does not affect the C/O ratio by more than 0.06. We detect H$_2$O, CO$_2$, CO, and H$_2$S in both the NIRCam transmission and emission spectra, find that methane is depleted on the terminator, and confirm with VULCAN that photochemistry is a potential cause of this depletion. We also find tentative (1.8$σ$) evidence of a dayside thermal inversion at millibar pressures. Finally, we take this opportunity to introduce a new version of PLATON. PLATON 6 supports GPU computation, speeding up the code up to 10x. It also supports free retrievals using both volume mixing ratio and centered-log ratio priors; emission from planetary surfaces of different compositions; updated opacities at improved resolution; and Pareto smoothed importance sampling leave-one-out cross validation (PSIS-LOO).

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arXiv2024

Revised Masses for Low Density Planets Orbiting the Disordered M-dwarf System TOI-1266

We present an analysis of 126 new radial velocity measurements from the MAROON-X spectrograph to investigate the TOI-1266 system, which hosts two transiting sub-Neptunes at 10.8 and 18.8 days. We measure masses of $M_{b}=4.01~\pm~0.55~M_{\oplus}$ for TOI-1266 b and $M_{c}=2.00~\pm~0.72~M_{\oplus}$ for TOI-1266 c. Our mass measurements agree with existing HARPS-N observations which we combined using a weighted average yielding masses for TOI-1266 b, and c of $M_{b}=4.10~\pm~0.43~M_{\oplus}$, $M_{c}=2.4~\pm~0.54~M_{\oplus}$ respectively. The combined dataset enabled a $\approx30\%$ improvement in mass precision. With bulk densities of $ρ_{b}$ = 1.25 $\pm$ 0.36 g cm$^{-3}$ and $ρ_{c}$ = 1.36 $\pm$ 0.31 g cm$^{-3}$, the planets are among the lowest density sub-Neptunes orbiting an M dwarf. They are both consistent with rocky cores surrounded by hydrogen helium envelopes. TOI-1266 c may also be consistent with a water-rich composition, but we disfavor that interpretation from an Occam's razor perspective.

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