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Masashi Omiya

Publications and source records attributed to Masashi Omiya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A spectroscopic thermometer: individual vibrational band spectroscopy with the example of OH in the atmosphere of WASP-33b

Individual vibrational band spectroscopy presents an opportunity to examine exoplanet atmospheres in detail by distinguishing where the vibrational state populations of molecules differ from the current assumption of a Boltzmann distribution. Here, retrieving vibrational bands of OH in exoplanet atmospheres is explored using the hot Jupiter WASP-33b as an example. We simulate low-resolution spectroscopic data for observations with the JWST's NIRSpec instrument and use high resolution observational data obtained from the Subaru InfraRed Doppler instrument (IRD). Vibrational band-specific OH cross section sets are constructed and used in retrievals on the (simulated) low and (real) high resolution data. Low resolution observations are simulated for two WASP-33b emission scenarios: under the assumption of local thermal equilibrium (LTE) and a toy non-LTE model for vibrational excitation of selected bands. We show that mixing ratios for individual bands can be retrieved with sufficient precision to allow the vibrational population distributions of the forward models to be reconstructed. A simple fit for the Boltzmann distribution in the LTE case shows that the vibrational temperature is recoverable in this manner. For high resolution, cross-correlation applications, we apply the individual vibrational band analysis to an IRD spectrum of WASP-33b, applying an 'un-peeling' technique. Individual detection significances for the two strongest bands are shown to be in line with Boltzmann distributed vibrational state populations consistent with the effective temperature of the WASP-33b atmosphere reported previously. We show the viability of this approach for analysing the individual vibrational state populations behind observed and simulated spectra including reconstructing state population distributions.

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The mass determination of TOI-519 b: a close-in giant planet transiting a metal-rich mid-M dwarf

We report the mass determination of TOI-519 b, a transiting substellar object around a mid-M dwarf. We carried out radial velocity measurements using Subaru / InfraRed Doppler (IRD), revealing that TOI-519 b is a planet with a mass of $0.463^{+0.082}_{-0.088}~M_{\rm Jup}$. We also find that the host star is metal rich ($\rm [Fe/H] = 0.27 \pm 0.09$ dex) and has the lowest effective temperature ($T_{\rm eff}=3322 \pm 49$ K) among all stars hosting known close-in giant planets based on the IRD spectra and mid-resolution infrared spectra obtained with NASA Infrared Telescope Facility / SpeX. The core mass of TOI-519 b inferred from a thermal evolution model ranges from $0$ to $\sim30~M_\oplus$, which can be explained by both the core accretion and disk instability models as the formation origins of this planet. However, TOI-519 is in line with the emerging trend that M dwarfs with close-in giant planets tend to have high metallicity, which may indicate that they formed in the core accretion model. The system is also consistent with the potential trend that close-in giant planets around M dwarfs tend to be less massive than those around FGK dwarfs.

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High-Resolution Transmission Spectroscopy of the Terrestrial Exoplanet GJ 486b

Terrestrial exoplanets orbiting M-dwarf stars are promising targets for transmission spectroscopy with existing or near-future instrumentation. The atmospheric composition of such rocky planets remains an open question, especially given the high X-ray and ultraviolet flux from their host M dwarfs that can drive atmospheric escape. The 1.3 $R_\oplus$ exoplanet GJ 486b ($T_{\rm{eq}} \sim$ 700 K), orbiting an M3.5 star, is expected to have one of the strongest transmission spectroscopy signals among known terrestrial exoplanets. We observed three transits of GJ 486b using three different high-resolution spectrographs: IRD on Subaru, IGRINS on Gemini-South, and SPIRou on the Canada-France-Hawai'i Telescope. We searched for atmospheric absorption from a wide variety of molecular species via the cross-correlation method, but did not detect any robust atmospheric signals. Nevertheless, our observations are sufficiently sensitive to rule out several clear atmospheric scenarios via injection and recovery tests, and extend comparative exoplanetology into the terrestrial regime. Our results suggest that GJ 486b does not possess a clear H$_2$/He-dominated atmosphere, nor a clear 100% water-vapor atmosphere. Other secondary atmospheres with high mean molecular weights or H$_2$/He-dominated atmospheres with clouds remain possible. Our findings provide further evidence suggesting that terrestrial planets orbiting M-dwarf stars may experience significant atmospheric loss.

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Absence of extended atmospheres in low-mass star radius-gap planets GJ 9827 b, GJ 9827 d and TOI-1235 b

\textit{Kepler} showed a paucity of planets with radii of 1.5 - 2 $\mathrm R_{\oplus}$ around solar mass stars but this radius-gap has not been well studied for low-mass star planets. Energy-driven escape models like photoevaporation and core-powered mass-loss predict opposing transition regimes between rocky and non-rocky planets when compared to models depicting planets forming in gas-poor environments. Here we present transit observations of three super-Earth sized planets in the radius-gap around low-mass stars using high-dispersion InfraRed Doppler (IRD) spectrograph on the Subaru 8.2m telescope. The planets GJ 9827 b and d orbit around a K6V star and TOI-1235 b orbits a M0.5 star. We limit any planet-related absorption in the 1083.3 nm lines of triplet He I by placing an upper-limit on the equivalent width of 14.71 mÅ, 18.39 mÅ, and 1.44 mÅ, for GJ 9827 b (99% confidence), GJ 9827 d (99% confidence) and TOI-1235 b (95% confidence) respectively. Using a Parker wind model, we cap the mass-loss at $>$0.25 $\mathrm M_{\oplus}$ Gyr$^{-1}$ and $>$0.2 $\mathrm M_{\oplus}$ Gyr$^{-1}$ for GJ 9827 b and d, respectively (99% confidence), and $>$0.05 $\mathrm M_{\oplus}$ Gyr$^{-1}$ for TOI-1235 b (95\% confidence) for a representative wind temperature of 5000 K. Our observed results for the three planets are more consistent with the predictions from photoevaporation and/or core-powered mass-loss models than the gas-poor formation models. However, more planets in the radius-gap regime around the low-mass stars are needed to robustly predict the atmospheric evolution in planets around low-mass stars.

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Direct Imaging Explorations for Companions around Mid-Late M Stars from the Subaru/IRD Strategic Program

The Subaru telescope is currently performing a strategic program (SSP) using the high-precision near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer IRD to search for exoplanets around nearby mid/late-M~dwarfs via radial velocity (RV) monitoring. As part of the observing strategy for the exoplanet survey, signatures of massive companions such as RV trends are used to reduce the priority of those stars. However, this RV information remains useful for studying the stellar multiplicity of nearby M~dwarfs. To search for companions around such ``deprioritized" M~dwarfs, we observed 14 IRD-SSP targets using Keck/NIRC2 observations with pyramid wavefront sensing at NIR wavelengths, leading to high sensitivity to substellar-mass companions within a few arcseconds. We detected two new companions (LSPM~J1002+1459~B and LSPM~J2204+1505~B) and two new candidates that are likely companions (LSPM~J0825+6902~B and LSPM~J1645+0444~B) as well as one known companion. Including two known companions resolved by the IRD fiber injection module camera, we detected seven (four new) companions at projected separations between $\sim2-20$~au in total. A comparison of the colors with the spectral library suggests that LSPM~J2204+1505~B and LSPM~J0825+6902~B are located at the boundary between late-M and early-L spectral types. Our deep high-contrast imaging for targets where no bright companions were resolved did not reveal any additional companion candidates. The NIRC2 detection limits could constrain potential substellar-mass companions ($\sim10-75\ M_{\rm Jup}$) at 10~au or further. The failure with Keck/NIRC2 around the IRD-SSP stars having significant RV trends makes these objects promising targets for further RV monitoring or deeper imaging with JWST to search for smaller-mass companions below the NIRC2 detection limits.

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An Earth-sized Planet around an M5 Dwarf Star at 22 pc

We report on the discovery of an Earth-sized transiting planet ($R_p=1.015\pm0.051\,R_\oplus$) in a $P=4.02$ day orbit around K2-415 (EPIC 211414619), an M5V star at 22 pc. The planet candidate was first identified by analyzing the light curve data by the K2 mission, and is here shown to exist in the most recent data from TESS. Combining the light curves with the data secured by our follow-up observations including high-resolution imaging and near infrared spectroscopy with IRD, we rule out false positive scenarios, finding a low false positive probability of $2\times 10^{-4}$. Based on IRD's radial velocities of K2-415, which were sparsely taken over three years, we obtain the planet mass of $3.0\pm 2.7\,M_\oplus$ ($M_p<7.5\,M_\oplus$ at $95\,\%$ confidence) for K2-415b. Being one of the lowest mass stars ($\approx 0.16\,M_\odot$) known to host an Earth-sized transiting planet, K2-415 will be an interesting target for further follow-up observations, including additional radial velocity monitoring and transit spectroscopy.

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Photosynthetic Fluorescence from Earth-Like Planets around Sun-Like and Cool Stars

Remote sensing of the Earth has demonstrated that photosynthesis is traceable as the vegetation red edge (VRE), which is the steep rise in the reflection spectrum of vegetation, and as solar-induced fluorescence. This study examined the detectability of biological fluorescence from two types of photosynthetic pigments, chlorophylls (Chls) and bacteriochlorophylls (BChls), on Earth-like planets with oxygen-rich/poor and anoxic atmospheres around the Sun and M dwarfs. Atmospheric absorption, such as H2O, CH4, O2, and O3, and the VRE obscure the fluorescence emissions from Chls and BChls. We found that BChl-based fluorescence for wavelengths of 1000-1100 nm, assuming the spectrum of BChl b-bearing purple bacteria, could provide a suitable biosignature but only in the absence of the water cloud coverage or other strong absorbers near 1000 nm. The Chl fluorescence is weaker for several reasons, e.g., spectral blending with the VRE. The apparent reflectance excess is greatly increased in both Chl and BChl cases around TRAPPIST-1 due to fluorescence and stellar absorption lines. This could be a promising feature for detecting the fluorescence around ultracool red dwarfs by follow-up ground-based observations with high spectral resolution; however, it requires a long time around Sun-like stars, even for a LUVOIR-like space mission. Moreover, the simultaneous detection of fluorescence and VRE is key to identifying traces of photosynthesis because absorption, reflectance, and fluorescence are physically connected. For further validation of fluorescence detection, the nonlinear response of biological fluorescence as a function of light intensity could be considered.

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A Close-in Planet Orbiting Giant Star HD 167768

We report the detection of a giant planet orbiting a G-type giant star HD 167768 from radial velocity measurements using HIgh Dispersion Echelle Spectrograph (HIDES) at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory (OAO). HD 167768 has a mass of $1.08_{-0.12}^{+0.14} M_{\odot}$, a radius of $9.70_{-0.25}^{+0.25} R_{\odot}$, a metallicity of $\rm{[Fe/H]}=-0.67_{-0.08}^{+0.09}$, and a surface gravity of $\log g = 2.50_{-0.06}^{+0.06}$. The planet orbiting the star is a warm Jupiter, having a period of $20.6532_{-0.0032}^{+0.0032}\ \rm{d}$, a minimum mass of $0.85_{-0.11}^{+0.12}\ M_{\rm{J}}$, and an orbital semimajor axis of $0.1512_{-0.0063}^{+0.0058}\ \rm{au}$. The planet has one of the shortest orbital periods among those ever found around deeply evolved stars ($\log g < 3.5$) using radial velocity methods. The equilibrium temperature of the planet is $1874\ \rm{K}$, as high as a hot Jupiter. The radial velocities show two additional regular variations at $41\ \rm{d}$ and $95\ \rm{d}$, suggesting the possibility of outer companions in the system. Follow-up monitoring will enable validation of the periodicity. We also calculated the orbital evolution of HD 167768 b and found that the planet will be engulfed within 0.15\,Gyr.

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Planet(esimal)s Around Stars with TESS (PAST) III: A Search for Triplet He I in the Atmospheres of Two 200 Myr-old Planets

We report a search for excess absorption in the 1083.2 nm line of ortho (triplet) helium during transits of TOI-1807b and TOI-2076b, 1.25 and 2.5R$_{\rm Earth}$ planets on 0.55- and 10.4-day orbits around nearby $\sim$200~Myr-old K dwarf stars. We limit the equivalent width of any transit-associated absorption to $<$4 and $<$8 mA, respectively. We limit the escape of solar-composition atmospheres from TOI-1807b and TOI-2076b to $\lesssim$1 and $\lesssim$0.1M$_{\rm Earth}$ Gyr$^{-1}$, respectively, depending on wind temperature. The absence of a H/He signature for TOI-1807b is consistent with a measurement of mass indicating a rocky body and the prediction by a hydrodynamic model that any H-dominated atmosphere would be unstable and already have been lost. Differential spectra obtained during the transit of TOI-2076b contain a He I-like feature, but this closely resembles the stellar line and extends beyond the transit interval. Until additional transits are observed, we suspect this to be the result of variation in the stellar He I line produced by rotation of active regions and/or flaring on the young, active host star. Non-detection of escape could mean that TOI-2076b is more massive than expected, the star is less EUV-luminous, the models overestimate escape, or the planet has a H/He-poor atmosphere that is primarily molecules such as H$_2$O. Photochemical models of planetary winds predict a semi-major axis at which triplet He I observations are most sensitive to mass loss: TOI-2076b orbits near this optimum. Future surveys could use a distance criterion to increase the yield of detections.

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A Trio of Giant Planets Orbiting Evolved Star HD 184010

We report the discovery of a triple-giant-planet system around an evolved star HD 184010 (HR 7421, HIP 96016). This discovery is based on observations from Okayama Planet Search Program, a precise radial velocity survey, undertaken at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory between 2004 April and 2021 June. The star is K0 type and located at beginning of the red-giant branch. It has a mass of $1.35_{-0.21}^{+0.19} M_{\odot}$, a radius of $4.86_{-0.49}^{+0.55} R_{\odot}$, and a surface gravity $\log g$ of $3.18_{-0.07}^{+0.08}$. The planetary system is composed of three giant planets in a compact configuration: The planets have minimum masses of $M_{\rm{b}}\sin i = 0.31_{-0.04}^{+0.03} M_{\rm{J}}$, $M_{\rm{c}}\sin i = 0.30_{-0.05}^{+0.04} M_{\rm{J}}$, and $M_{\rm{d}}\sin i = 0.45_{-0.06}^{+0.04} M_{\rm{J}}$, and orbital periods of $P_{\rm{b}}=286.6_{-0.7}^{+2.4}\ \rm{d}$, $P_{\rm{c}}=484.3_{-3.5}^{+5.5}\ \rm{d}$, and $P_{\rm{d}}=836.4_{-8.4}^{+8.4}\ \rm{d}$, respectively, which are derived from a triple Keplerian orbital fit to three sets of radial velocity data. The ratio of orbital periods are close to $P_{\rm{d}}:P_{\rm{c}}:P_{\rm{b}} \sim 21:12:7$, which means the period ratios between neighboring planets are both lower than $2:1$. The dynamical stability analysis reveals that the planets should have near-circular orbits. The system could remain stable over 1 Gyr, initialized from co-planar orbits, low eccentricities ($e=0.05$), and planet masses equal to the minimum mass derived from the best-fit circular orbit fitting. Besides, the planets are not likely in mean motion resonance. HD 184010 system is unique: it is the first system discovered to have a highly evolved star ($\log g < 3.5$ cgs) and more than two giant planets all with intermediate orbital periods ($10^2\ \rm{d} < P < 10^3\ \rm{d}$).

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A Super-Earth Orbiting Near the Inner Edge of the Habitable Zone around the M4.5-dwarf Ross 508

We report the near-infrared radial-velocity (RV) discovery of a super-Earth planet on a 10.77-day orbit around the M4.5 dwarf Ross 508 ($J_\mathrm{mag}=9.1$). Using precision RVs from the Subaru Telescope IRD (InfraRed Doppler) instrument, we derive a semi-amplitude of $3.92^{+0.60}_{-0.58}$ ${\rm m\,s}^{-1}$, corresponding to a planet with a minimum mass $m \sin i = 4.00^{+0.53}_{-0.55}\ M_{\oplus}$. We find no evidence of significant signals at the detected period in spectroscopic stellar activity indicators or MEarth photometry. The planet, Ross 508 b, has a semimajor-axis of $0.05366^{+0.00056}_{-0.00049}$ au. This gives an orbit-averaged insolation of $\approx$1.4 times the Earth's value, placing Ross 508 b near the inner edge of its star's habitable zone. We have explored the possibility that the planet has a high eccentricity and its host is accompanied by an additional unconfirmed companion on a wide orbit. Our discovery demonstrates that the near-infrared RV search can play a crucial role to find a low-mass planet around cool M dwarfs like Ross 508.

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TOI-1696: a nearby M4 dwarf with a $3R_\oplus$ planet in the Neptunian desert

We present the discovery and validation of a temperate sub-Neptune around the nearby mid-M dwarf TIC 470381900 (TOI-1696), with a radius of $3.09 \pm 0.11 \,R_\oplus$ and an orbital period of $2.5 \,\rm{days}$, using a combination of TESS and follow-up observations using ground-based telescopes. Joint analysis of multi-band photometry from TESS, MuSCAT, MuSCAT3, Sinistro, and KeplerCam confirmed the transit signal to be achromatic as well as refined the orbital ephemeris. High-resolution imaging with Gemini/'Alopeke and high-resolution spectroscopy with the Subaru/IRD confirmed that there are no stellar companions or background sources to the star. The spectroscopic observations with IRD and IRTF/SpeX were used to determine the stellar parameters, and found the host star is an M4 dwarf with an effective temperature of $T_{eff} = 3185 \pm 76\,\rm{K}$ and a metallicity of [Fe/H] $=0.336 \pm 0.060 \,\rm{dex}$. The radial velocities measured from IRD set a $2$-$σ$ upper limit on the planetary mass to be $48.8 \,M_\oplus$. The large radius ratio ($R_p/R_\star \sim 0.1$) and the relatively bright NIR magnitude ($J=12.2 \,\rm{mag}$) make this planet an attractive target for further followup observations. TOI-1696b is one of the planets belonging to the Neptunian desert with the highest transmission spectroscopy metric discovered to date, making it an interesting candidate for atmospheric characterizations with JWST.

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Regular Radial Velocity Variations in Nine G- and K-type Giant Stars: Eight Planets and One Planet Candidate

We report the detection of radial velocity variations in nine evolved G- and K-type giant stars. The observations were conducted at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory. Planets or planet candidates can best explain these regular variations. However, a coincidence of near 280-day variability among five of them prevents us from fully ruling out stellar origins for some of the variations, since all nine stars behave similarly in stellar properties. In the planet hypotheses to the RV variations, the planets (including one candidate) may survive close to the boundary of the so-called "planet desert" around evolved stars, having orbital periods between 255 and 555 days. Besides, they are the least-massive giant planets detected around G- and K-type giant stars, with minimum masses between 0.45$M_{\rm{J}}$ and 1.34$M_{\rm{J}}$. We further investigated other hypotheses for our detection, yet none of them can better explain regular RV variation. With our detection, it is convinced that year-long regular variation with amplitude down to 15 $\rm{m\ s^{-1}}$ for G- and K-type giant stars is detectable. Moreover, we performed simulations to further confirm the detectability of planets around these stars. Finally, we explored giant planets around intermediate-mass stars, and likewise found a 4 Jupiter mass gap (e.g. Santo et al. 2017), which is probably a boundary of the giant planet population.

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Silicon and Strontium abundances of very metal-poor stars determined from near-infrared spectra

Silicon and Strontium are key elements to explore the nucleosynthesis and chemical evolution of the Galaxy by measurements of very metal-poor stars. There are, however, only a few useful spectral lines of these elements in the optical range that are measurable for such low-metallicity stars. Here we report on abundances of these two elements determined from near-infrared high-resolution spectra obtained with the Subaru Telescope Infrared Doppler instrument (IRD). Si abundances are determined for as many as 26 Si lines for six very and extremely metal-poor stars (-4.0<[Fe/H]<-1.5), which significantly improves the reliability of the abundance measurements. All six stars, including three carbon-enhanced objects, show over-abundances of Si ([Si/Fe]~+0.5). Two stars with [Fe/H]~-1.5 have relatively small over-abundances. The [Mg/Si] ratios agree with the solar value, except for one metal-poor star with carbon excess. Strontium abundances are determined from the triplet lines for four stars, including two for the first time. The consistency of the Sr abundances determined from near-infrared and optical spectra require further examination from additional observations.

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TOI-2285b: A 1.7 Earth-radius Planet Near the Habitable Zone around a Nearby M Dwarf

We report the discovery of TOI-2285b, a sub-Neptune-sized planet transiting a nearby (42 pc) M dwarf with a period of 27.3 days. We identified the transit signal from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite photometric data, which we confirmed with ground-based photometric observations using the multiband imagers MuSCAT2 and MuSCAT3. Combining these data with other follow-up observations including high resolution spectroscopy with the Tillinghast Reflector Echelle Spectrograph, high resolution imaging with the SPeckle Polarimeter, and radial velocity (RV) measurements with the InfraRed Doppler instrument, we find that the planet has a radius of 1.74 $\pm$ 0.08 $R_\oplus$, a mass of $<$ 19.5 $M_\oplus$ (95\% c.l.), and an insolation flux of 1.54 $\pm$ 0.14 times that of the Earth. Although the planet resides just outside the habitable zone for a rocky planet, if the planet harbors an H$_2$O layer under a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, then liquid water could exist on the surface of the H$_2$O layer depending on the planetary mass and water mass fraction. The bright host star in the near infrared ($K_s=9.0$) makes this planet an excellent target for further RV and atmospheric observations to improve our understanding on the composition, formation, and habitability of sub-Neptune-sized planets.

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Elemental abundances of nearby M dwarfs based on high-resolution near-infrared spectra obtained by the Subaru/IRD survey: Proof of concept

Detailed chemical analyses of M dwarfs are scarce but necessary to constrain the formation environment and internal structure of planets being found around them. We present elemental abundances of 13 M dwarfs (2900 < Teff < 3500 K) observed in the Subaru/IRD planet search project. They are mid-to-late M dwarfs whose abundance of individual elements has not been well studied. We use the high-resolution (~70,000) near-infrared (970-1750 nm) spectra to measure the abundances of Na, Mg, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Sr by the line-by-line analysis based on model atmospheres, with typical errors ranging from 0.2 dex for [Fe/H] to 0.3-0.4 dex for other [X/H]. We measure radial velocities from the spectra and combine them with Gaia astrometry to calculate the Galactocentric space velocities UVW. The resulting [Fe/H] values agree with previous estimates based on medium-resolution K-band spectroscopy, showing a wide distribution of metallicity (-0.6 < [Fe/H] < +0.4). The abundance ratios of individual elements [X/Fe] are generally aligned with the solar values in all targets. While the [X/Fe] distributions are comparable to those of nearby FGK stars, most of which belong to the thin disk population, the most metal-poor object, GJ 699, could be a thick disk star. The UVW velocities also support this. The results raise the prospect that near-infrared spectra of M dwarfs obtained in the planet search projects can be used to grasp the trend of elemental abundances and Galactic stellar population of nearby M dwarfs.

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Two Bright M Dwarfs Hosting Ultra-Short-Period Super-Earths with Earth-like Compositions

We present observations of two bright M dwarfs (TOI-1634 and TOI-1685: $J=9.5-9.6$) hosting ultra-short period (USP) planets, identified by the TESS mission. The two stars are similar in temperature, mass, and radius ($T_\mathrm{eff}\,\approx\,3500$ K, $M_\star\,\approx\,0.45-0.46\,M_\odot$, and $R_\star\approx 0.45-0.46\,R_\odot$), and the planets are both super-Earth-sized ($1.25\,R_\oplus<R_p<2.0\,R_\oplus$). For both systems, light curves from the ground-based photometry exhibit planetary transits, whose depths are consistent with those by the TESS photometry. We also refine the transit ephemerides based on the ground-based photometry, finding the orbital periods of $P=0.9893436\pm0.0000020$ day and $P=0.6691416\pm0.0000019$ day for TOI-1634b and TOI-1685b, respectively. Through intensive radial velocity (RV) observations using IRD on the Subaru 8.2m telescope, we confirm the planetary nature of the TOIs, and measure their masses: $10.14\pm0.95\,M_\oplus$ and $3.43\pm0.93\,M_\oplus$ for TOI-1634b and TOI-1685b, respectively, when the observed RVs are fitted with a single-planet circular-orbit model. Combining those with the planet radii of $R_p=1.749\pm 0.079\,R_\oplus$ (TOI-1634b) and $1.459\pm0.065\,R_\oplus$ (TOI-1685b), we find that both USP planets have mean densities consistent with an Earth-like internal composition, which is typical for small USP planets. TOI-1634b is currently the most massive USP planet in this category, and it resides near the radius valley, which makes it a benchmark planet in the context of discussing the size limit of rocky planet cores as well as testing the formation scenarios for USP planets. Excess scatter in the RV residuals for TOI-1685 suggests the presence of a possible secondary planet or unknown activity/instrumental noise in the RV data, but further observations are required to check those possibilities.

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Non-detection of Helium in the upper atmospheres of TRAPPIST-1b, e and f

We obtained high-resolution spectra of the ultra-cool M-dwarf TRAPPIST-1 during the transit of its planet `b' using two high dispersion near-infrared spectrographs, IRD instrument on the Subaru 8.2m telescope and HPF instrument on the 10m Hobby-Eberly Telescope. These spectroscopic observations are complemented by a photometric transit observation for planet `b' using the APO/ARCTIC, which assisted us to capture the correct transit times for our transit spectroscopy. Using the data obtained by the new IRD and HPF observations, as well as the prior transit observations of planets `b', `e' and `f' from IRD, we attempt to constrain the atmospheric escape of the planet using the He I triplet 10830 Å absorption line. We do not detect evidence for any primordial extended H-He atmospheres in all three planets. To limit any planet related absorption, we place an upper limit on the equivalent widths of <7.754 mÅ for planet `b', <10.458 mÅ for planet `e', and <4.143 mÅ for planet `f' at 95% confidence from the IRD data, and <3.467 mÅ for planet `b' at 95% confidence from HPF data. Using these limits along with a solar-like composition isothermal Parker wind model, we attempt to constrain the mass-loss rates for the three planets. For TRAPPIST-1b, our models exclude the highest possible energy-limited rate for a wind temperature <5000 K. This non-detection of extended atmospheres having low mean-molecular weight in all three planets aids in further constraining their atmospheric composition by steering the focus towards the search of high molecular weight species in their atmospheres.

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