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Michal Steiner

Publications and source records attributed to Michal Steiner.

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ASTEP confirmation of a pair of long-period Jupiter-sized planets with extremely low densities transiting TOI-791

Gas giant planets with periods $20~<~P~<~300~\rm days$ orbiting Sun-like stars are a relatively uncommon outcome of planetary formation, and key questions about the nature and formation of this sub-population remain unanswered. Theoretical models for the location of their formation (in- or ex-situ) and for their subsequent migration predict different outcomes in terms of planet masses and eccentricities, indicating that observations have a key role to play in disentangling their histories. In this work we present the discovery and confirmation of a pair of long-period Jupiter-sized planets transiting an F7 star: TOI-791 b is a $0.993\pm0.033\rm~R_{Jup}$ planet on a $139.29931_{-0.00012}^{+0.00011}~\rm day$ orbit, and TOI-791 c, a $1.155\pm0.040\rm ~R_{Jup}$ planet on a $232.01570_{-0.00071}^{+0.00067}~\rm day$ orbit. The two planets are within 0.07% of a second-order 5:3 period commensurability leading to transit timing variations (TTVs) of up to 50 minutes. We confirm their planetary nature using ground-based photometry, including multiple full detections of the $>11~\rm hr$ transits of both TOI-791 b and c from Antarctica with ASTEP, making these the longest-duration transits ever observed in their entirety from the ground. Our detailed analysis of the TTV signal allows us to measure dynamical masses for both planets, which yield densities of $\rho_{\rm b}=0.038\pm0.008 \rm ~g~cm^{-3}$ and $\rho_{\rm c}=0.047\pm0.006 \rm ~g~cm^{-3}$, indicating that TOI-791~b and c are two of the lowest density giant planets ever detected. While these measurements are robust, further follow-up is needed to fully characterise the TTV signal and the architecture of the system.

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Ultra-hot Jupiter atmospheres at high spectral resolution

Observations of ultra-hot Jupiters offer an unprecedented opportunity to study the physics of some of the most extreme planetary atmospheres known. With exceedingly high amounts of irradiation blasting their upper atmospheres, ultra-hot Jupiters have dayside temperatures comparable to some late type stars enabling refractory metals otherwise condensed in colder planets to exist in the gas phase, all the while still maintaining comparatively cool nightsides. The ensuing intense temperature contrasts can give rise not only to strong day-to-night winds, but also to vastly different chemical and cloud properties on opposing hemispheres. With its ability to resolve spectral features that are unique to individual chemical species, high resolution spectroscopy can unambiguously disentangle atmospheric signals of exoplanetary origin, which follow a well-defined Keplerian motion, from stationary or pseudo-stationary telluric and stellar lines. Combined, the high temperature of ultra-hot Jupiters providing access to refractory metals with narrow spectral features and the ability of high-resolution spectroscopy to resolve said narrow lines provides access to a wealth of information about these atmospheres that would otherwise be unavailable at lower resolving powers or for other types of planets. In this chapter we explore some of the key physical and chemical transitions that differentiate ultra-hot Jupiters from their colder counterparts and highlight the unique opportunities arising from probing their atmospheres using high resolution spectroscopy.

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TOI-6692b: An eccentric 130 day period giant planet with a single transit from TESS

We report the discovery and characterization of TOI-6692 b, an eccentric (e~0.54) Jupiter on a 130-day orbit. TOI-6692 b was first detected as a community TESS Object of Interest (cTOI) by the Visual Survey Group and the Planet Hunters group as a single transit candidate via TESS observation. The period was subsequently confirmed via radial velocity monitoring from the Planet Finder Spectrograph on the 6.5m Magellan telescope. Additional radial velocities were acquired with the CHIRON, FEROS, and CORALIE spectrographs. LCOGT ground-based photometric follow-up was conducted over 2 weeks to detect another transit and refine the period. Although we did not detect an ingress or egress of the 11.04 hr transit, we did detect a possible in-transit signal in the multi-night data and provide an updated ephemeris for future monitoring. TOI-6692 b is one of few planets with orbital periods longer than 100 days that have a secure mass, radius, and eccentricity detection. As with most giant planets at these orbital periods, the eccentricity of TOI-6692 b is lower than that expected of planets undergoing high-eccentricity tidal migration, but is more consistent with the expectations of planet-planet scattering outcomes. A long-term radial velocity trend was detected and further monitoring is warranted to determine the outer companion period. TOI-6692 b is also one of few TESS single transit targets that have its period eventually confirmed via follow-up photometric campaigns timed to capture transits despite the relatively large ephemeris uncertainties. Such efforts highlight the capabilities of night-to-night stability on ground-based photometric facilities today.

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A 43 day transiting Neptune and two 25 day Saturns from TESS, NGTS and ASTEP

Beyond orbital periods of 10 days, there is a dearth of known transiting gas giants. On longer orbits, planets are less affected by their host star, and become ideal probes of planet formation, migration and evolution. We report the discovery of a long period Neptune and two Saturns, each initially identified as single transits in the TESS photometry, and solved through additional transits from ground-based follow-up photometric observations by NGTS and ASTEP. High-resolution radial velocity mass measurements using CORALIE and HARPS confirm their planetary nature. From joint modelling of the photometric and spectroscopic data, we determine an orbital period of $43.12655_{-0.00017}^{+0.00012}~$days, radius of $3.65\pm0.22~\mathrm{R_{\oplus}}$, and mass of $19.1_{-4.5}^{+4.9}~\mathrm{M_{\oplus}}$ for NGTS-34b, making it one of the longest period well-characterized transiting Neptunes. Orbiting a late F-type star, bright in the K-band (Kmag$~\simeq7.9$), it is amenable for cool atmosphere studies using JWST or Ariel. TOI-4940b is a small Saturn on a $25.867811_{-0.000056}^{+0.000058}~$day orbit with a radius of $6.61\pm0.37~\mathrm{R_{\oplus}}$ and an upper mass limit $<89~\mathrm{M_{\oplus}}$. NGTS-35b(=TOI-6669b) is a larger Saturn on a $25.241192\pm0.000022~$day, moderately eccentric orbit ($e = 0.192_{-0.033}^{+0.037}$), with a radius of $10.90\pm0.65~\mathrm{R_{\oplus}}$ and a mass of $152_{-19}^{+22}~\mathrm{M_{\oplus}}$. With an assumed albedo $A=0.3$, each of these planets has an equilibrium temperature below 700K, with NGTS-35b especially cold at $450~$K. These three giants add to the small but growing population of long period planets that can further our understanding of planet formation mechanisms.

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Atmospheric composition and circulation of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-121b with joint NIRPS, HARPS and CRIRES+ transit spectroscopy

Ultra-hot Jupiters like WASP-121b provide unique laboratories for studying atmospheric chemistry and dynamics under extreme irradiation. Constraining their composition and circulation is key to tracing planet formation pathways. We present a comprehensive characterisation of WASP-121b using high-resolution transit spectroscopy from HARPS, NIRPS, and CRIRES+ across nine transits, complemented by five TESS sectors, two EulerCam light curves simultaneous with HARPS/NIRPS, and an extensive RV dataset refining orbital parameters. Cross-correlation detects Fe, CO, and V with SNRs of 5.8, 5.0, and 4.7, respectively. Retrieval analysis constrains H$_2$O to $-6.52^{+0.49}_{-0.68}$ dex, though its signal might be muted by the H$^-$ continuum. We measure volatile/refractory ratios, key to uncover planetary chemistry, evolution, and formation. Retrieved values align with solar composition in chemical equilibrium, suggesting minimal disequilibrium chemistry at the probed pressures (around $10^{-4}$-$10^{-3}$ bar). We update WASP-121b's orbital parameters analysing its largest RV dataset to date. Comparing orbital velocities from RVs and atmospheric retrieval reveals a non-zero circulation offset, $\mathrm{\Delta K}_{\mathrm{p}} = -15 \pm 3 \ \mathrm{km}\mathrm{s}^{-1}$ (assuming $\mathrm{M}_{\star} = 1.38 \pm 0.02 \ \mathrm{M}_{\odot}$), consistent with drag-free or weak-drag 3D GCM predictions, though sensitive to stellar mass. These results provide new constraints on WASP-121b's thermal structure, dynamics, and chemistry, underscoring the power of multi-instrument and multi-wavelength high-resolution spectroscopy to probe exoplanet atmospheres.

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Hydride ion continuum hides absorption signatures in the NIRPS near-infrared transmission spectrum of the ultra-hot gas giant WASP-189b

Ultra-hot Jupiters showcase extreme atmospheric conditions, including molecular dissociation, ionisation, and significant day-to-night temperature contrasts. Their close proximity to host stars subjects them to intense stellar irradiation, driving high temperatures where hydride ions (H$^-$) significantly contribute to opacity, potentially obscuring metal features in near-infrared transmission spectra. We investigate the atmosphere of WASP-189b, targeting atomic, ionic, and molecular species (H, He, Fe, Ti, V, Mn, Na, Mg, Ca, Cr, Ni, Y, Ba, Sc, Fe$^+$, Ti$^+$, TiO, H$_2$O, CO, and OH), focusing on (i) the role of H$^-$ as a source of continuum opacity, and (ii) the relative hydride-to-Fe abundance using joint optical and near-infrared data. We present two transits of WASP-189b gathered simultaneously in the optical with HARPS and near-infrared with NIRPS, supported by photometric light curves from EulerCam and ExTrA. Transmission spectra were analysed via cross-correlation to detect absorption features and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Atmospheric retrievals quantified relative abundances by fitting overall metallicity and proxies for TiO, H$^-$, and e$^-$. Only atomic iron is detected in HARPS data (S/N ~5.5), but not in NIRPS, likely due to H$^-$ continuum dampening. Retrievals on HARPS-only and HARPS+NIRPS suggest the hydride-to-Fe ratio exceeds equilibrium predictions by about 0.5 dex, hinting at strong hydrogen ionisation. Including NIRPS data helps constrain H$^-$ abundance and set an upper limit on free electron density, unconstrained in HARPS-only data. These results emphasise H$^-$ as a significant continuum opacity source impeding detection of planetary absorption features in WASP-189b's near-infrared transmission spectrum.

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Three Saturn-mass planets transiting F-type stars revealed with TESS and HARPS

While the sample of confirmed exoplanets continues to increase, the population of transiting exoplanets around early-type stars is still limited. These planets allow us to investigate the planet properties and formation pathways over a wide range of stellar masses and study the impact of high irradiation on hot Jupiters orbiting such stars. We report the discovery of TOI-615b, TOI-622b, and TOI-2641b, three Saturn-mass planets transiting main sequence, F-type stars. The planets were identified by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and confirmed with complementary ground-based and radial velocity observations. TOI-615b is a highly irradiated ($\sim$1277 $F_{\oplus}$) and bloated Saturn-mass planet (1.69$^{+0.05}_{-0.06}$$R_{Jup}$ and 0.43$^{+0.09}_{-0.08}$$M_{Jup}$) in a 4.66 day orbit transiting a 6850 K star. TOI-622b has a radius of 0.82$^{+0.03}_{-0.03}$$R_{Jup}$ and a mass of 0.30$^{+0.07}_{-0.08}$~$M_{Jup}$ in a 6.40 day orbit. Despite its high insolation flux ($\sim$600 $F_{\oplus}$), TOI-622b does not show any evidence of radius inflation. TOI-2641b is a 0.39$^{+0.02}_{-0.04}$$M_{Jup}$ planet in a 4.88 day orbit with a grazing transit (b = 1.04$^{+0.05}_{-0.06 }$) that results in a poorly constrained radius of 1.61$^{+0.46}_{-0.64}$$R_{Jup}$. Additionally, TOI-615b is considered attractive for atmospheric studies via transmission spectroscopy with ground-based spectrographs and $\textit{JWST}$. Future atmospheric and spin-orbit alignment observations are essential since they can provide information on the atmospheric composition, formation and migration of exoplanets across various stellar types.

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