arXiv subjects

L. Mignon

Publications and source records attributed to L. Mignon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The RoPES project with HARPS and HARPS-N III. Two candidate planets orbiting the G-type star HD 161098

Context. The development of refined instruments and techniques for a detailed analysis of the radial velocities (RVs) of stars other than the Sun allows the presence of planetary signals of amplitude below 1 ms$^{-1}$ to be investigated. Long-term RV surveys allow the detection of Earth-like and super-Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars, prime targets for future missions for the atmospheric characterization of exoplanets. Aims. We present the analysis of the nearby G8 V-type star HD 161098 (V = 7.68 mag, d = 29.75 pc). We searched for terrestrial planets in the habitable zone. Methods. We combined historical datasets with new data collected in an ongoing blind search program with HARPS, HARPS-N, and ESPRESSO. We utilized recently developed tools to extract RVs and to deal with the analysis of stellar activity. We performed a joint analysis of RVs and activity indicators to separate the planetary signals from those related to activity. Results. We detected two sub-ms$^{-1}$ signals that we claim as candidate planets. We are not able to confirm their nature with certainty. Candidate HD 161098 b has an orbital period of 72.578$_{-0.060}^{+0.059}$ d and a minimum mass of 3.63 $\pm$ 0.59 MEarth. HD 161098 c has an orbital period of 682.5$_{-9.9}^{+9.5}$ d and a minimum mass of 7.8$_{-1.4}^{+1.5}$ MEarth.If confirmed, candidate HD 161098 c would reside in the optimistic habitable zone of the star. We find a magnetic cycle of 4090$_{-130}^{+140}$ d period and a rotation period of 28.22$_{-0.35}^{+0.30}$ d. Our analysis sets the stage for future observing campaigns of the star, finalized for the confirmation of our results. Conclusions. We are entering the sub-ms$^{-1}$ era at long orbital periods with a combination of stellar activity treatment and long-term campaigns.

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arXiv2026

The RoPES project with HARPS and HARPS-N II. A third planet in the multi-planet system HD 176986

Earth-like planets orbiting in the habitable zone of K- to G-type stars create an RV effect in amplitude of less than 1 \si{\meter\per\second} and have orbital periods of hundreds of days. Only long-term RV surveys with sub-meter per second precision instruments can explore the outer regions of Sun-like stars and look for Earth-like planets and super-Earths. We present the analysis of the K-type star HD 176986. It has a brightness of V=8.45 mag and a distance from the Sun of d = 27.88 pc. This star hosts a known planetary system of two super-Earths. We joined historical datasets with new data collected in an ongoing blind search program. We took advantage of recently developed tools for RV extraction and stellar activity filtering. The analysis of activity indicators permits us to determine the period of the magnetic cycle of the star alongside its rotation period. We performed a joint analysis of RVs and activity indicators through multidimensional GPs to better constrain the activity model in RVs and avoid overfitting. We detected a new planet orbiting the star and retrieved the two known planets. HD 176986 b has an orbital period of 6.49164$^{+0.00030}_{-0.00029}$ d and a minimum mass of 5.36 $\pm$ 0.44 M$\oplus$. HD 176986 c has an orbital period of P$_c$ = 16.8124 $\pm$ 0.0015 d and a minimum mass of 9.75$_{-0.64}^{+0.65}$ M$\oplus$. HD 176986 d has an orbital period of 61.376$^{+0.051}_{-0.049}$ d and a minimum mass of 6.76$_{-0.92}^{+0.91}$ M$\oplus$. From the analysis of activity indicators, we find evidence of a magnetic cycle with a period of 2432$_{-59}^{+64}$ d, along with a rotation period of 36.05 $_{-0.71}^{+0.67}$ d. We discover a new planet in the multi-planet system orbiting the K-type star HD 176986. All the planets have minimum masses compatible with super-Earths or mini-Neptunes.

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arXiv2025

Architecture of planetary systems with and without outer giant planets I. Inner planet detections around HD 23079, HD 196067, and HD 86226

Understanding the link between outer giant planets (OGPs) and inner light planets (ILPs) is key to understanding planetary system formation and architecture. The correlation between these two populations of planets is debated both theoretically -- different formation models predict either a correlation or an anticorrelation -- and observationally. Several recent attempts to constrain this correlation have yielded contradictory results, due to small-number statistics and heterogeneous samples. We present an ongoing long-term observational effort with CORALIE, HARPS, and ESPRESSO to probe the ILP occurrence in systems with and without OGP. In this first article of a series, we discuss how, from the design to the observations, we ensured the homogeneity of the samples, both in terms of stellar properties and observing strategy. We also present the first three detections of ILPs in our OGP host sample. We find a 8.3 mE planet at 5.75 d around HD 23079, a 10.4 mE planet at 4.6 d around HD 196067, and we confirm the 7.5 mE planet at 3.98 d around HD 86226. While a rigorous statistical analysis of our samples will be performed in subsequent studies, the relatively low number of detections in our sample seems to contradict previous studies that found a strong OGP-ILP correlation.

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arXiv2025

The JADE code. II. Modeling the coupled orbital and atmospheric evolution of GJ 436 b to constrain its migration and companion

The observed architecture and modeled evolution of close-in exoplanets provide crucial insights into their formation pathways and survival mechanisms. To investigate these fundamental questions, we employed JADE, a comprehensive numerical code that models the coupled evolution of atmospheres and dynamics over secular timescales, rooted in present-day observations. JADE integrates photoevaporation with migration driven by von Zeipel-Lidov-Kozai (ZLK) cycles from an external perturber, allowing us to explore evolutionary scenarios where dynamical and atmospheric processes influence each other. Here, we specifically considered GJ 436 b, a warm Neptune with an eccentric orbit and polar spin-orbit angle that has survived within the "hot Neptune desert" despite ongoing atmospheric escape. Our extensive exploration included over 500 000 simulations in a framework that combines precomputed grids with Bayesian inference. This allowed us to constrain GJ 436 b's initial conditions and the properties of its putative companion within a ZLK hypothesis. Our results suggest that GJ 436 b formed at ~ 0.3 AU and, despite its current substantial atmospheric erosion, has experienced minimal cumulative mass loss throughout its history, thanks to a late inward migration triggered by a distant companion inducing ZLK oscillations. We find that initial mutual inclinations of 80{\deg} - 100{\deg} with this companion best reproduce the observed polar orbit. By combining our explored constraints with radial velocity detection limits, we identified the viable parameter space for the hypothetical GJ 436 c. We found that it strongly disfavors stellar and brown dwarf masses, which offers a useful guide for future observational searches. This work demonstrates how coupled modeling can shed light on the interplay shaping close-in exoplanets and explain the survival of volatile-rich worlds near the edges of the desert.

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arXiv2025

Characterizing planetary systems with SPIRou: Detection of a sub-Neptune in a 6-day period orbit around the M dwarf Gl 410

The search for exoplanets around nearby M dwarfs represents a crucial milestone in the census of planetary systems in the vicinity of our Solar System. Since 2018 our team is carrying a radial-velocity blind search program for planets around nearby M dwarfs with the near-IR spectro-polarimeter and velocimeter SPIRou at the CFHT and the optical velocimeter SOPHIE at the OHP in France. Here we present our results on Gl 410, a 0.55 Msun 480+-150 Myr old active M dwarf distant 12 pc. We used the line-by-line (LBL) technique to measure the RVs with SPIRou and the template matching method with SOPHIE. Three different methods were employed, two based on principal component analysis (PCA), to clean the SPIRou RVs for systematics. We applied Gaussian processes (GP) modeling to correct the SOPHIE RVs for stellar activity. The l1 and apodize sine periodogram analysis was used to search for planetary signals in the SPIRou data taking into account activity indicators. We analyzed TESS data and searched for planetary transits. We report the detection of a M sin(i)=8.4+-1.3 Mearth sub-Neptune planet at a period of 6.020+-0.004 days in circular orbit with SPIRou. The same signal, although with lower significance, was also retrieved in the SOPHIE RV data after correction for activity using a GP trained on SPIRou's longitudinal magnetic field (Bl) measurements. The TESS data indicate that the planet is not transiting. Within the SPIRou wPCA RVs, we find tentative evidence for two additional planetary signals at 2.99 and 18.7 days. In conclusion, infrared RVs are a powerful method to detect extrasolar planets around active M dwarfs. Care should be taken however to correct/filter systematics generated by residuals of the telluric correction or small structures in the detector plane. The LBL technique combined with PCA offers a promising way to reach this objective. Further monitoring of Gl 410 is necessary.

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arXiv2025

Radial velocity homogeneous analysis of M dwarfs observed with HARPS. II. Detection limits and planetary occurrence statistics

We re-determine planetary occurrences around M dwarfs using 20 years of observations from HARPS on 197 targets. The first aim of this study is to propose more precise occurrence rates using the large volume of the sample but also variations to previous calculations, particularly by considering multiplicity, which is now an integral part of planetary occurrence calculations. The second aim is to exploit the extreme longevity of HARPS to determine occurrence rates in the unexplored domain of very long periods. This work relies entirely on the 197 radial velocity time series obtained and analysed in our previous study. By considering they are cleaned of any detectable signal, we convert them into detection limits. We use these 197 limits to produce a detectability map and combine it with confirmed planet detections to establish our occurrence rates. Finally, we also convert the detection limits from orbital period to insolation in order to construct an occurrence statistics for the temperate zone. We find a strong prevalence of low-mass planets around M dwarfs, with an occurrence rate of 120% for planets with a mass between 0.75 and 3 Me. In addition, we compute an occurrence rate of 45.3% +20-16% for temperate zone planets around M dwarfs. We obtain an occurrence rate of a few percent for giant planets with wide separations. In our sample these giant planets with wide separations are only detected around the most massive M dwarfs.

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arXiv2025

Searching for substellar companion candidates with Gaia. III. Search for companions to members of young associations

Absolute astrometry with Gaia is expected to detect and characterize the orbits of thousands of exoplanets in the coming years. A tool, GaiaPMEX, was recently developed to characterize multiple systems based on Gaia-only data, and, when possible, the Gaia-Hipparcos proper motion anomaly. We compare the detection capabilities of absolute astrometry and spectroscopy (RV), and to detect and characterize planetary-mass companions, combining the astrometric data with direct imaging and RV data. For companion masses possibly in the planetary range, we use direct imaging and when possible, RV data as well, to further constrain their nature and orbital properties. For each target, a diagnosis on its binarity based on absolute astrometry is given. When no binary is detected, we provides detection limits in the (sma, mass) space. We identify several companions with possible masses down to the brown dwarfs (BD; 50+) or planetary masses (13). We detect a new giant planet at less than 1-2 au from the M-type star G80-21. For AB Pic and HD 14082 B, we confirm the presence of substellar companions, and provide robust solutions for their mass and orbital properties. We further identify 9 planetary mass companions candidates. Finally, a detailed treatment of noises in Gaia astrometric measurements shows that there are no evidence at a 2-sigma level of two exoplanet detections previously announced. Combining GaiaPMEX and RV data is therefore perfectly adaptIn the 0.5 to 5 au domain, GaiaPMEX has an excellent sensitivity to BDs, and a good sensitivity to planetary mass planets for this sample.

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arXiv2024

The inflated, eccentric warm Jupiter TOI-4914 b orbiting a metal-poor star, and the hot Jupiters TOI-2714 b and TOI-2981 b

Recent observations of giant planets have revealed unexpected bulk densities. Hot Jupiters, in particular, appear larger than expected for their masses compared to planetary evolution models, while warm Jupiters seem denser than expected. These differences are often attributed to the influence of the stellar incident flux, but could they also result from different planet formation processes? Is there a trend linking the planetary density to the chemical composition of the host star? In this work we present the confirmation of three giant planets in orbit around solar analogue stars. TOI-2714 b ($P \simeq 2.5$ d, $R_{\rm p} \simeq 1.22 R_{\rm J}$, $M_{\rm p} = 0.72 M_{\rm J}$) and TOI-2981 b ($P \simeq 3.6$ d, $R_{\rm p} \simeq 1.2 R_{\rm J}$, $M_{\rm p} = 2 M_{\rm J}$) are hot Jupiters on nearly circular orbits, while TOI-4914 b ($P \simeq 10.6$ d, $R_{\rm p} \simeq 1.15 R_{\rm J}$, $M_{\rm p} = 0.72 M_{\rm J}$) is a warm Jupiter with a significant eccentricity ($e = 0.41 \pm 0.02$) that orbits a star more metal-poor ([Fe/H]$~= -0.13$) than most of the stars known to host giant planets. Our radial velocity (RV) follow-up with the HARPS spectrograph allows us to detect their Keplerian signals at high significance (7, 30, and 23$\sigma$, respectively) and to place a strong constraint on the eccentricity of TOI-4914 b (18$\sigma$). TOI-4914 b, with its large radius and low insolation flux ($F_\star < 2 \times 10^8~{\rm erg~s^{-1}~cm^{-2}}$), appears to be more inflated than what is supported by current theoretical models for giant planets. Moreover, it does not conform to the previously noted trend that warm giant planets orbiting metal-poor stars have low eccentricities. This study thus provides insights into the diverse orbital characteristics and formation processes of giant exoplanets, in particular the role of stellar metallicity in the evolution of planetary systems.

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arXiv2023

The SOPHIE search for northern extrasolar planets-XIX. A system including a cold sub-Neptune potentially transiting a V = 6.5 star HD88986

Transiting planets with orbital periods longer than 40 d are extremely rare among the 5000+ planets discovered so far. The lack of discoveries of this population poses a challenge to research into planetary demographics, formation, and evolution. Here, we present the detection and characterization of HD88986b, a potentially transiting sub-Neptune, possessing the longest orbital period among known transiting small planets (< 4 R$_{\oplus}$) with a precise mass measurement ($\sigma_M/M$ > 25%). Additionally, we identified the presence of a massive companion in a wider orbit around HD88986. Our analysis reveals that HD88986b, based on two potential single transits on sector 21 and sector 48 which are both consistent with the predicted transit time from the RV model, is potentially transiting. The joint analysis of RV and photometric data show that HD88986b has a radius of 2.49$\pm$0.18 R$_{\oplus}$, a mass of 17.2$^{+4.0}_{-3.8}$ M$_{\oplus}$, and it orbits every 146.05$^{+0.43}_{-0.40}$ d around a subgiant HD88986 which is one of the closest and brightest exoplanet host stars (G2V type, R=1.543 $\pm$0.065 R$_{\odot}$, V=$6.47\pm 0.01$ mag, distance=33.37$\pm$0.04 pc). The nature of the outer, massive companion is still to be confirmed; a joint analysis of RVs, Hipparcos, and Gaia astrometric data shows that with a 3$\sigma$ confidence interval, its semi-major axis is between 16.7 and 38.8 au and its mass is between 68 and 284 M$_{Jup}$. HD88986b's wide orbit suggests the planet did not undergo significant mass loss due to extreme-ultraviolet radiation from its host star. Therefore, it probably maintained its primordial composition, allowing us to probe its formation scenario. Furthermore, the cold nature of HD88986b (460$\pm$8 K), thanks to its long orbital period, will open up exciting opportunities for future studies of cold atmosphere composition characterization.

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arXiv2023

Near-IR and optical radial velocities of the active M dwarf star Gl 388 (AD Leo) with SPIRou at CFHT and SOPHIE at OHP: A 2.23 day rotation period and no evidence for a corotating planet

Context: The search for extrasolar planets around the nearest M dwarfs is a crucial step towards identifying the nearest Earth-like planets. One of the main challenges in this search is that M dwarfs can be magnetically active and stellar activity can produce radial velocity (RV) signals that could mimic those of a planet. Aims: We aim to investigate whether the 2.2 day period observed in optical RVs of the nearby active M dwarf star Gl 388 (AD Leo) is due to stellar activity or to a planet that corotates with the star as suggested in the past. Methods: We obtained quasi-simultaneous optical RVs of Gl 388 from 2019 to 2021 with SOPHIE (R~75k) at the OHP in France, and near-IR RV and Stokes V measurements with SPIRou at the CFHT (R~70k). Results: The SOPHIE RV time series displays a periodic signal with a 2.23+-0.01 day period and 23.6+-0.5 m/s amplitude, which is consistent with previous HARPS observations obtained in 2005-2006. The SPIRou RV time series is flat at 5 m/s rms and displays no periodic signals. RV signals of amplitude higher than 5.3 m/s at a period of 2.23 days can be excluded with a confidence level higher than 99%. Using the modulation of the longitudinal magnetic field (Bl) measured with SPIRou, we derive a stellar rotation period of 2.2305+-0.0016 days. Conclusions: SPIRou RV measurements provide solid evidence that the periodic variability of the optical RVs of Gl 388 is due to stellar activity rather than to a corotating planet. The magnetic activity nature of the optical RV signal is further confirmed by the modulation of Bl with the same period. The SPIRou campaign on Gl 388 demonstrates the power of near-IR RV to confirm or infirm planet candidates discovered in the optical around active stars. SPIRou observations reiterate how effective spectropolarimetry is at determining the stellar rotation period.

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arXiv2023

Characterisation of stellar activity of M dwarfs. I. Long-timescale variability in a large sample and detection of new cycles

M dwarfs are active stars that exhibit variability in chromospheric emission and photometry at short and long timescales, including long cycles that are related to dynamo processes. This activity also impacts the search for exoplanets because it affects the radial velocities. We analysed a large sample of 177 M dwarfs observed with HARPS (2003-2020) in order to characterise the long-term variability of these stars. We compared the variability obtained in three chromospheric activity indices (Ca II H & K, the Na D doublet, and Halpha) and with ASAS photometry. We focused on the detailed analysis of the chromospheric emission based on linear, quadratic, and sinusoidal models. We used various tools to estimate the significance of the variability and to quantify the improvement brought by the models. In addition, we analysed complementary photometric time series for the most variable stars to be able to provide a broader view of the long-term variability in M dwarfs. We find that most stars are significantly variable, even the quietest stars. Most stars in our sample (75%) exhibit a long-term variability, which manifests itself mostly through linear or quadratic variability, although the true behaviour may be more complex. We found significant variability with estimated timescales for 24 stars, and estimated the lower limit for a possible cycle period for an additional 9 stars that were not previously published. We found evidence of complex variability because more than one long-term timescale may be present for at least 12 stars, together with significant differences between the behaviour of the three activity indices. This complexity may also be the source of the discrepancies observed between previous publications. We conclude that long-term variability is present for all spectral types and activity level in M dwarfs, without a significant trend with spectral type or mean activity level.

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arXiv2022

Relationship between Ca and H$\alpha$ chromospheric emission in F-G-K stars: indication of stellar filaments?

Different relationships between the H$\alpha$ and Ca II chromospheric emissions have been reported in solar-type stars. In particular, the time-series of emissions in these two lines are clearly anti-correlated for a few percent of the stars, contrary to what is observed on the Sun. Our objective is to characterise these relationships in more detail using complementary criteria, and to constrain the properties of filaments and plages that are necessary to explain the observations. We analysed the average level and variability of the H$\alpha$ and Ca II emission for 441 F-G-K stars, paying particular attention to their (anti-)correlations on both short and long timescales. We also computed synthetic H$\alpha$ and Ca II time-series for different assumptions of plage and filament properties and compared them with the observations. We were not able to find plage properties that, alone, are sufficient to reproduce the observations at all timescales simultaneously, even when allowing different H$\alpha$ and Ca II emission relationships for different stars. We also specified the complex and surprising relationship between the average activity levels of both indexes, in particular for low-activity stars.We conclude that plages alone are unlikely to explain the observed variety of relationships between Ca II and H$\alpha$ emission, and that the presence of other phenomena like filaments may help to reconcile the models with observations.

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arXiv2021

HD207897 b: A dense sub-Neptune transiting a nearby and bright K-type star

We present the discovery and characterization of a transiting sub-Neptune orbiting with a 16.20 day period around a nearby (28 pc) and bright(V=8.37) K0V star HD207897 (TOI-1611). This discovery is based on photometric measurements from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(TESS) mission and radial velocity (RV) observations from the SOPHIE, Automated Planet Finder (APF) and HIRES high precision spectrographs. We used EXOFASTv2 for simultaneously modeling the parameters of the planet and its host star, combining photometric and RV data to determine the planetary system parameters. We show that the planet has a radius of 2.50+/-0.08 RE and a mass of either 14.4+/-1.6 ME or 15.9+/-1.6 ME with nearly equal probability; the two solutions correspond to two possibilities for the stellar activity period. Hence, the density is either 5.1+/-0.7 g cm^-3 or 5.5^{+0.8}_{-0.7} g cm^-3, making it one of the relatively rare dense sub-Neptunes. The existence of such a dense planet at only 0.12 AU from its host star is unusual in the currently observed sub-Neptune (2<RE<4) population. The most likely scenario is that this planet has migrated to its current position.

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arXiv2021

The SOPHIE search for northern extrasolar planets -- XVII. A wealth of new objects: Six cool Jupiters, three brown dwarfs, and 16 low-mass binary stars

Distinguishing classes within substellar objects and understanding their formation and evolution need larger samples of substellar companions such as exoplanets, brown dwarfs, and low-mass stars. In this paper, we look for substellar companions using radial velocity surveys of FGK stars with the SOPHIE spectrograph at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence. We assign here the radial velocity variations of 27 stars to their orbital motion induced by low-mass companions. We also constrained their plane-of-the-sky motion using HIPPARCOS and Gaia Data Release 1 measurements, which constrain the true masses of some of these companions. We report the detection and characterization of six cool Jupiters, three brown dwarf candidates, and 16 low-mass stellar companions. We additionally update the orbital parameters of the low-mass star HD 8291 B, and we conclude that the radial velocity variations of HD 204277 are likely due to stellar activity despite resembling the signal of a giant planet. One of the new giant planets, BD+631405 b, adds to the population of highly eccentric cool Jupiters, and it is presently the most massive member. Two of the cool Jupiter systems also exhibit signatures of an additional outer companion. The orbital periods of the new companions span 30 days to 11.5 years, their masses 0.72 Jupiter mass to 0.61 Solar mass, and their eccentricities 0.04 to 0.88. These discoveries probe the diversity of substellar objects and low-mass stars, which will help constrain the models of their formation and evolution.

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arXiv2020

A hot terrestrial planet orbiting the bright M dwarf L 168-9 unveiled by TESS

We report the detection of a transiting super-Earth-sized planet (R=1.39+-0.09 Rearth) in a 1.4-day orbit around L 168-9 (TOI-134),a bright M1V dwarf (V=11, K=7.1) located at 25.15+-0.02 pc. The host star was observed in the first sector of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission and, for confirmation and planet mass measurement, was followed up with ground-based photometry, seeing-limited and high-resolution imaging, and precise radial velocity (PRV) observations using the HARPS and PFS spectrographs. Combining the TESS data and PRV observations, we find the mass of L168-9 b to be 4.60+-0.56 Mearth, and thus the bulk density to be 1.74+0.44-0.33 times larger than that of the Earth. The orbital eccentricity is smaller than 0.21 (95% confidence). This planet is a Level One Candidate for the TESS Mission's scientific objective - to measure the masses of 50 small planets - and is one of the most observationally accessible terrestrial planets for future atmospheric characterization.

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arXiv2019

The SOPHIE search for northern extrasolar planets. XVI. HD 158259: A compact planetary system in a near-3:2 mean motion resonance chain

Since 2011, the SOPHIE spectrograph has been used to search for Neptunes and super-Earths in the Northern Hemisphere. As part of this observational program, 290 radial velocity measurements of the 6.4 V magnitude star HD 158259 were obtained. Additionally, TESS photometric measurements of this target are available. We present an analysis of the SOPHIE data and compare our results with the output of the TESS pipeline. The radial velocity data, ancillary spectroscopic indices, and ground-based photometric measurements were analyzed with classical and $\ell_1$ periodograms. The stellar activity was modeled as a correlated Gaussian noise and its impact on the planet detection was measured with a new technique. The SOPHIE data support the detection of five planets, each with $m \sin i \approx 6 M_\oplus$, orbiting HD 158259 in 3.4, 5.2, 7.9, 12, and 17.4 days. Though a planetary origin is strongly favored, the 17.4 d signal is classified as a planet candidate due to a slightly lower statistical significance and to its proximity to the expected stellar rotation period. The data also present low frequency variations, most likely originating from a magnetic cycle and instrument systematics. Furthermore, the TESS pipeline reports a significant signal at 2.17 days corresponding to a planet of radius $\approx 1.2 R_\oplus$. A compatible signal is seen in the radial velocities, which confirms the detection of an additional planet and yields a $\approx 2 M_\oplus$ mass estimate. We find a system of five planets and a strong candidate near a 3:2 mean motion resonance chain orbiting HD 158259. The planets are found to be outside of the two and three body resonances.

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arXiv2019

The SOPHIE search for northern extrasolar planets XV. A Warm Neptune around the M-dwarf Gl378

We present the detection of a Warm Neptune orbiting the M-dwarf Gl378, using radial velocity measurements obtained with the SOPHIE spectrograph at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence. The star was observed in the context of the SOPHIE exoplanets consortium's subprogramme dedicated to finding planets around M-dwarfs. Gl378 is an M1 star, of solar metallicity, at a distance of 14.96 pc. The single planet detected, Gl378 b, has a minimum mass of 13.02 $\rm M_{Earth}$ and an orbital period of 3.82 days, which place it at the lower boundary of the Hot Neptune desert. As one of only a few such planets around M-dwarfs, Gl378 b provides important clues to the evolutionary history of these close-in planets. In particular, the eccentricity of 0.1 may point to a high-eccentricity migration. The planet may also have lost part of its envelope due to irradiation.

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arXiv2019

The SOPHIE search for northern extrasolar planets. XIV. A temperate ($T_\mathrm{eq}\sim 300$ K) super-earth around the nearby star Gliese 411

Periodic radial velocity variations in the nearby M-dwarf star Gl411 are reported, based on measurements with the SOPHIE spectrograph. Current data do not allow us to distinguish between a 12.95-day period and its one-day alias at 1.08 days, but favour the former slightly. The velocity variation has an amplitude of 1.6 m/s, making this the lowest-amplitude signal detected with SOPHIE up to now. We have performed a detailed analysis of the significance of the signal and its origin, including extensive simulations with both uncorrelated and correlated noise, representing the signal induced by stellar activity. The signal is significantly detected, and the results from all tests point to its planetary origin. Additionally, the presence of an additional acceleration in the velocity time series is suggested by the current data. On the other hand, a previously reported signal with a period of 9.9 days, detected in HIRES velocities of this star, is not recovered in the SOPHIE data. An independent analysis of the HIRES dataset also fails to unveil the 9.9-day signal. If the 12.95-day period is the real one, the amplitude of the signal detected with SOPHIE implies the presence of a planet, called Gl411 b, with a minimum mass of around three Earth masses, orbiting its star at a distance of 0.079 AU. The planet receives about 3.5 times the insolation received by Earth, which implies an equilibrium temperature between 255 K and 350 K, and makes it too hot to be in the habitable zone. At a distance of only 2.5 pc, Gl411 b, is the third closest low-mass planet detected to date. Its proximity to Earth will permit probing its atmosphere with a combination of high-contrast imaging and high-dispersion spectroscopy in the next decade.

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