arXiv subjects

Motohide Tamura

Publications and source records attributed to Motohide Tamura.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Neutral metals in the atmosphere of HD149026b

Recent progress in high-dispersion spectroscopy has revealed the presence of vaporized heavy metals and ions in the atmosphere of hot Jupiters whose dayside temperature is larger than 2000 K, categorized as ultra hot Jupiters (UHJs). Using the archival data of high resolution transmission spectroscopy obtained with the Subaru telescope, we searched for neutral metals in HD149026b, a hot Jupiter cooler than UHJs. By removing stellar and telluric absorption and using a cross-correlation technique, we report tentative detection of neutral titanium with 4.4 sigma and a marginal signal of neutral iron with 2.8 sigma in the atmosphere. This is the first detection of neutral titanium in an exoplanetary atmosphere. In this temperature range, titanium tends to form titanium oxide (TiO). The fact that we did not detect any signal from TiO suggests that the C/O ratio in the atmosphere is higher than the solar value. The detection of metals in the atmosphere of hot Jupiters cooler than UHJs will be useful for understanding the atmospheric structure and formation history of hot Jupiters.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2021

TOI-954 b and K2-329 b: Short-Period Saturn-Mass Planets that Test whether Irradiation Leads to Inflation

We report the discovery of two short-period Saturn-mass planets, one transiting the G subgiant TOI-954 (TIC 44792534, $ V = 10.343 $, $ T = 9.78 $) observed in TESS sectors 4 and 5, and one transiting the G dwarf K2-329 (EPIC 246193072, $ V = 12.70 $, $ K = 10.67 $) observed in K2 campaigns 12 and 19. We confirm and characterize these two planets with a variety of ground-based archival and follow-up observations, including photometry, reconnaissance spectroscopy, precise radial velocity, and high-resolution imaging. Combining all available data, we find that TOI-954 b has a radius of $0.852_{-0.062}^{+0.053} \, R_{\mathrm{J}}$ and a mass of $0.174_{-0.017}^{+0.018} \, M_{\mathrm{J}}$ and is in a 3.68 day orbit, while K2-329 b has a radius of $0.774_{-0.024}^{+0.026} \, R_{\mathrm{J}}$ and a mass of $0.260_{-0.022}^{+0.020} \, M_{\mathrm{J}}$ and is in a 12.46 day orbit. As TOI-954 b is 30 times more irradiated than K2-329 b but more or less the same size, these two planets provide an opportunity to test whether irradiation leads to inflation of Saturn-mass planets and contribute to future comparative studies that explore Saturn-mass planets at contrasting points in their lifetimes.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

Calibration of the instrumental polarization effects of SCExAO-CHARIS' spectropolarimetric mode

SCExAO at the Subaru telescope is a visible and near-infrared high-contrast imaging instrument employing extreme adaptive optics and coronagraphy. The instrument feeds the near-infrared light (JHK) to the integral field spectrograph CHARIS. Recently, a Wollaston prism was added to CHARIS' optical path, giving CHARIS a spectropolarimetric capability that is unique among high-contrast imaging instruments. We present a detailed Mueller matrix model describing the instrumental polarization effects of the complete optical path, thus the telescope and instrument. The 22 wavelength bins of CHARIS provide a unique opportunity to investigate in detail the wavelength dependence of the instrumental polarization effects. From measurements with the internal light source, we find that the image derotator (K-mirror) produces strong wavelength-dependent crosstalk, in the worst case converting ~95% of the incident linear polarization to circularly polarized light that cannot be measured. Theoretical calculations show that the magnitude of the instrumental polarization of the telescope varies with wavelength between approximately 0.5% and 0.7%, and that its angle is exactly equal to the altitude angle of the telescope. We plan to more accurately determine the instrumental polarization of the telescope with observations of a polarization standard star, and fit more comprehensive physical models to all experimental data. In addition, we plan to integrate the complete Mueller matrix model into the existing CHARIS post-processing pipeline, with the aim to achieve a polarimetric accuracy of <0.1% in the degree of linear polarization. Our calibrations of CHARIS' spectropolarimetric mode will enable unique quantitative polarimetric studies of circumstellar disks and planetary and brown dwarf companions.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2020

JCMT POL-2 and BISTRO Survey observations of magnetic fields in the L1689 molecular cloud

We present 850$μ$m polarization observations of the L1689 molecular cloud, part of the nearby Ophiuchus molecular cloud complex, taken with the POL-2 polarimeter on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). We observe three regions of L1689: the clump L1689N which houses the IRAS 16293-2422 protostellar system, the starless clump SMM-16, and the starless core L1689B. We use the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method to estimate plane-of-sky field strengths of $366\pm 55$ $μ$G in L1689N, $284\pm 34$ $μ$G in SMM-16, and $72\pm 33$ $μ$G in L1689B, for our fiducial value of dust opacity. These values indicate that all three regions are likely to be magnetically trans-critical with sub-Alfvénic turbulence. In all three regions, the inferred mean magnetic field direction is approximately perpendicular to the local filament direction identified in $Herschel$ Space Telescope observations. The core-scale field morphologies for L1689N and L1689B are consistent with the cloud-scale field morphology measured by the $Planck$ Space Observatory, suggesting that material can flow freely from large to small scales for these sources. Based on these magnetic field measurements, we posit that accretion from the cloud onto L1689N and L1689B may be magnetically regulated. However, in SMM-16, the clump-scale field is nearly perpendicular to the field seen on cloud scales by $Planck$, suggesting that it may be unable to efficiently accrete further material from its surroundings.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

SCExAO/CHARIS Direct Imaging Discovery of a 20 au Separation, Low-Mass Ratio Brown Dwarf Companion to an Accelerating Sun-like Star

We present the direct imaging discovery of a substellar companion to the nearby Sun-like star, HD 33632 Aa, at a projected separation of $\sim$ 20 au, obtained with SCExAO/CHARIS integral field spectroscopy complemented by Keck/NIRC2 thermal infrared imaging. The companion, HD 33632 Ab, induces a 10.5$σ$ astrometric acceleration on the star as detected with the $Gaia$ and $Hipparcos$ satellites. SCExAO/CHARIS $JHK$ (1.1--2.4 $μ$m) spectra and Keck/NIRC2 $L_{\rm p}$ (3.78 $μ$m) photometry are best matched by a field L/T transition object: an older, higher gravity, and less dusty counterpart to HR 8799 cde. Combining our astrometry with $Gaia/Hipparcos$ data and archival Lick Observatory radial-velocities, we measure a dynamical mass of 46.4 $\pm$ 8 $M_{\rm J}$ and an eccentricity of $e$ $<$0.46 at 95\% confidence. HD 33632 Ab's mass and mass ratio (4.0\% $\pm$ 0.7\%) are comparable to the low-mass brown dwarf GJ 758 B and intermediate between the more massive brown dwarf HD 19467 B and the (near-)planet mass companions to HR 2562 and GJ 504. Using $Gaia$ to select for direct imaging observations with the newest extreme adaptive optics systems can reveal substellar or even planet-mass companions on solar system-like scales at an increased frequency compared to blind surveys.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

In search of radio emission from exoplanets: GMRT observations of the binary system HD~41004

This paper reports Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations of the binary system HD 41004 that are among the deepest images ever obtained at 150~MHz and 400 MHz in the search for radio emission from exoplanets. The HD 41004 binary system consists of a K1 V primary star and an M2 V secondary; both stars are host to a massive planet or brown dwarf. Analogous to planets in our solar system that emit at radio wavelengths due to their strong magnetic fields, one or both of the planet or brown dwarf in the HD 41004 binary system are also thought to be sources of radio emission. Various models predict HD~41004Bb to have one of the largest expected flux densities at 150 MHz. The observations at 150 MHz cover almost the entire orbital period of HD 41004Bb, and about $20\%$ of the orbit is covered at 400 MHz. We do not detect radio emission, setting 3$σ$ limits of 1.8 mJy at 150 MHz and 0.12 mJy at 400 MHz. We also discuss some of the possible reasons why no radio emission was detected from the HD 41004 binary system.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

The JCMT BISTRO survey: alignment between outflows and magnetic fields in dense cores/clumps

We compare the directions of molecular outflows of 62 low-mass Class 0 and I protostars in nearby (<450 pc) star-forming regions with the mean orientations of the magnetic fields on 0.05-0.5 pc scales in the dense cores/clumps where they are embedded. The magnetic field orientations were measured using the JCMT POL-2 data taken by the BISTRO-1 survey and from the archive. The outflow directions were observed with interferometers in the literature. The observed distribution of the angles between the outflows and the magnetic fields peaks between 15 and 35 degrees. After considering projection effects, our results could suggest that the outflows tend to be misaligned with the magnetic fields by 50+/-15 degrees in three-dimensional space and are less likely (but not ruled out) randomly oriented with respect to the magnetic fields. There is no correlation between the misalignment and the bolometric temperatures in our sample. In several sources, the small-scale (1000-3000 au) magnetic fields is more misaligned with the outflows than their large-scale magnetic fields, suggesting that the small-scale magnetic field has been twisted by the dynamics. In comparison with turbulent MHD simulations of core formation, our observational results are more consistent with models in which the energy densities in the magnetic field and the turbulence of the gas are comparable. Our results also suggest that the misalignment alone cannot sufficiently reduce the efficiency of magnetic braking to enable formation of the observed number of large Keplerian disks with sizes larger than 30-50 au.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

High-contrast H$α$ imaging with Subaru/SCExAO+VAMPIRES

We present current status of H$α$ high-contrast imaging observations with Subaru/SCExAO+VAMPIRES. Our adaptive optics correction at optical wavelengths in combination with (double) spectral differential imaging (SDI) and angular differential imaging (ADI) was capable of detecting a ring-like feature around omi Cet and the H$α$ counterpart of jet around RY Tau. We tested the post-processing by changing the order of ADI and SDI and both of the contrast limits achieved $\sim10^{-3}-5\times10^{-4}$ at $0.3^{\prime\prime}$, which is comparable to other H$α$ high-contrast imaging instruments in the southern hemisphere such as VLT/SPHERE, VLT/MUSE, and MagAO. Subaru/VAMPIRES provides great opportunities for H$α$ high-contrast imaging for northern hemisphere targets.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2020

Misaligned Twin Molecular Outflows From Class-0 Proto-stellar Binary System VLA 1623A Unveiled by ALMA

We present the results of ALMA observations toward the low-mass Class-0 binary system, VLA 1623Aab in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud in $^{12}$CO, $^{13}$CO, and C$^{18}$O(2--1) lines. Our $^{12}$CO ($J$=2--1) data reveal that the VLA 1623 outflow consists of twin spatially overlapped outflows/jets. The redshifted northwestern jet exhibits the three cycles of wiggle with a spatial period of 1360$\pm$10 au, corresponding to a time period of 180 yr. The wiggle-like structure is also found in the position-velocity (PV) diagram, showing an amplitude in velocity of about 0.9 km s$^{-1}$. Both the period and the velocity amplitude of the wiggle are roughly consistent with those expected from the binary parameters, i.e., the orbital period (460$\pm$20 yr) and the Keplerian velocity (2.2 km s$^{-1}$). Our $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O images reveal the nature of the dense gas in the two cm/mm sources, VLA 1623-B and -W, and its relation to the outflows, and strongly support the previous interpretation that both are shocked cloudlets. The driving sources of the twin molecular outflows are, therefore, likely to be within the VLA 1623Aab binary. The axes of the two molecular outflows are estimated to be inclined by 70$\arcdeg$ from each other across the plane of sky, implying that the associated protostellar disks are also misaligned by $70\arcdeg$. Such a misalignment, together with a small binary separation of 34 au in the one of the youngest protobinary systems known, is difficult to explain by models of disk fragmentation in quiescent environments. Instead, other effects such as turbulence probably play roles in misaligning the disks.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

An Ultra-Hot Neptune in the Neptune desert

About one out of 200 Sun-like stars has a planet with an orbital period shorter than one day: an ultra-short-period planet (Sanchis-ojeda et al. 2014; Winn et al. 2018). All of the previously known ultra-short-period planets are either hot Jupiters, with sizes above 10 Earth radii (Re), or apparently rocky planets smaller than 2 Re. Such lack of planets of intermediate size (the "hot Neptune desert") has been interpreted as the inability of low-mass planets to retain any hydrogen/helium (H/He) envelope in the face of strong stellar irradiation. Here, we report the discovery of an ultra-short-period planet with a radius of 4.6 Re and a mass of 29 Me, firmly in the hot Neptune desert. Data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (Ricker et al. 2015) revealed transits of the bright Sun-like star \starname\, every 0.79 days. The planet's mean density is similar to that of Neptune, and according to thermal evolution models, it has a H/He-rich envelope constituting 9.0^(+2.7)_(-2.9)% of the total mass. With an equilibrium temperature around 2000 K, it is unclear how this "ultra-hot Neptune" managed to retain such an envelope. Follow-up observations of the planet's atmosphere to better understand its origin and physical nature will be facilitated by the star's brightness (Vmag=9.8).

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

ALMA Observations of the Inner Cavity in the Protoplanetary Disk around Sz 84

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of a protoplanetary disk around the T Tauri star Sz~84 and analyses of the structures of the inner cavity in the central region of the dust disk. Sz~84's spectral energy distribution (SED) has been known to exhibit negligible infrared excess at $λ\lesssim$10~$μ$m due to the disk's cavity structure. Analyses of the observed visibilities of dust continuum at 1.3~mm and the SED indicate that the size of the cavity in the disk of large (millimeter size) dust grains is 8~au in radius and that in the disk of small (sub-micron size) dust grains is 60~au in radius. Furthermore, from the SED analyses, we estimate that the upper limit mass of small dust grains at $r<$60~au is less than $\sim$10$^{-3}$~$M_{\rm earth}$, which is $\lesssim$0.01~\% of the total (small~$+$~large) dust mass at $r<$60~au. These results suggest that large dust grains are dominant at $r<$60~au, implying that dust grains efficiently grow with less efficient fragmentation in this region, potentially due to weak turbulence and/or stickier dust grains. The balance of grain growth and dust fragmentation is an important factor for determining the size of large dust grains in protoplanetary disks, and thus Sz~84 could serve as a good testbed for investigations of grain growth in such disks.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

Precision radial velocity measurements by the forward-modeling technique in the near-infrared

Precision radial velocity (RV) measurements in the near-infrared are a powerful tool to detect and characterize exoplanets around low-mass stars or young stars with higher magnetic activity. However, the presence of strong telluric absorption lines and emission lines in the near infrared that significantly vary in time can prevent extraction of RV information from these spectra by classical techniques, which ignore or mask the telluric lines. We present a methodology and pipeline to derive precision RVs from near-infrared spectra using a forward-modeling technique. We applied this to spectra with a wide wavelength coverage (Y, J, and H bands, simultaneously), taken by the InfraRed Doppler (IRD) spectrograph on the Subaru 8.2-m telescope. Our pipeline extracts the instantaneous instrumental profile of the spectrograph for each spectral segment, based on a reference spectrum of the laser-frequency comb that is injected into the spectrograph simultaneously with the stellar light. These profiles are used to derive the intrinsic stellar template spectrum, which is free from instrumental broadening and telluric features, as well as model and fit individual observed spectra in the RV analysis. Implementing a series of numerical simulations using theoretical spectra that mimic IRD data, we test the pipeline and show that IRD can achieve $<2$ m s$^{-1}$ precision for slowly rotating mid-to-late M dwarfs with a signal-to-noise ratio $> 100$ per pixel at 1000 nm. Dependences of RV precision on various stellar parameters (e.g., $T_{\rm eff}$, $v\sin i$, [Fe/H]) and the impact of telluric-line blendings on the RV accuracy are discussed through the mock spectra analyses. We also apply the RV-analysis pipeline to the observed spectra of GJ 699 and TRAPPIST-1, demonstrating that the spectrograph and the pipeline are capable of an RV accuracy of $<3$ m s$^{-1}$ at least on a time scale of a few months.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

SCExAO/CHARIS Near-IR Integral Field Spectroscopy of the HD 15115 Debris Disk

We present new, near-infrared ($1.1 - 2.4$ $μm$) high-contrast imaging of the debris disk around HD 15115 with the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics system (SCExAO) coupled with the Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (CHARIS). SCExAO/CHARIS resolves the disk down to $ρ\sim 0.2''$ ($\rm{r_{proj}} \sim 10$ $\rm{au}$), a factor of $\sim 3-5$ smaller than previous recent studies. We derive a disk position angle of $\rm{PA}$ $\sim 279.4^\circ - 280.5^\circ$ and an inclination of $\rm{i}$ $\sim 85.3^\circ - 86.2^\circ$. While recent SPHERE/IRDIS imagery of the system could suggest a significantly misaligned two ring disk geometry, CHARIS imagery does not reveal conclusive evidence for this hypothesis. Moreover, optimizing models of both one and two ring geometries using differential evolution, we find that a single ring having a Hong-like scattering phase function matches the data equally well within the CHARIS field of view ($ρ\lesssim 1''$). The disk's asymmetry, well-evidenced at larger separations, is also recovered; the west side of the disk appears on average around 0.4 magnitudes brighter across the CHARIS bandpass between $0.25''$ and $1''$. Comparing STIS/50CCD optical photometry ($2000-10500$ $Å$) with CHARIS NIR photometry, we find a red (STIS/50CCD$-$CHARIS broadband) color for both sides of the disk throughout the $0.4'' - 1''$ region of overlap, in contrast to the blue color reported at similar wavelengths for regions exterior to $\sim 2''$. Further, this color may suggest a smaller minimum grain size than previously estimated at larger separations. Finally, we provide constraints on planetary companions, and discuss possible mechanisms for the observed inner disk flux asymmetry and color.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

Distortion of Magnetic Fields in the Dense Core SL42 (CrA-E) in the Corona Australis Molecular Cloud Complex

Detailed magnetic field structure of the dense core SL42 (CrA-E) in the Corona Australis molecular cloud complex was investigated based on near-infrared polarimetric observations of background stars to measure dichroically polarized light produced by magnetically aligned dust grains. The magnetic fields in and around SL42 were mapped using 206 stars and curved magnetic fields were identified. On the basis of simple hourglass (parabolic) magnetic field modeling, the magnetic axis of the core on the plane of sky was estimated to be $40^{\circ} \pm 3^{\circ}$. The plane-of-sky magnetic field strength of SL42 was found to be $22.4 \pm 13.9$ $μ$G. Taking into account the effects of thermal/turbulent pressure and the plane-of-sky magnetic field component, the critical mass of SL42 was obtained to be $M_{\rm cr} = 21.2 \pm 6.6$ M$_{\odot}$, which is close to the observed core mass of $M_{\rm core} \approx 20$ M$_{\odot}$. We thus conclude that SL42 is in a condition close to the critical state if the magnetic fields lie near the plane of the sky. Since there is a very low luminosity object (VeLLO) toward the center of SL42, it is unlikely this core is in a highly subcritical condition (i.e., magnetic inclination angle significantly deviated from the plane of sky). The core probably started to collapse from a nearly kinematically critical state. In addition to the hourglass magnetic field modeling, the Inoue \& Fukui (2013) mechanism may explain the origin of the curved magnetic fields in the SL42 region.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

SCExAO/CHARIS High-Contrast Imaging of Spirals and Darkening Features in the HD 34700 A Protoplanetary Disk

We present Subaru/SCExAO+CHARIS broadband ($JHK$-band) integral field spectroscopy of HD 34700 A. CHARIS data recover HD 34700 A's disk ring and confirm multiple spirals discovered in Monnier et al. (2019). We set limits on substellar companions of $\sim12\ M_{\rm Jup}$ at $0\farcs3$ (in the ring gap) and $\sim5\ M_{\rm Jup}$ at $0\farcs75$ (outside the ring). The data reveal darkening effects on the ring and spiral, although we do not identify the origin of each feature such as shadows or physical features related to the outer spirals. Geometric albedoes converted from the surface brightness suggests a higher scale height and/or prominently abundant sub-micron dust at position angle between $\sim45^\circ$ and $90^\circ$. Spiral fitting resulted in very large pitch angles ($\sim30-50^\circ$) and a stellar flyby of HD 34700 B or infall from a possible envelope is perhaps a reasonable scenario to explain the large pitch angles.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

The JCMT BISTRO Survey: Magnetic Fields Associated with a Network of Filaments in NGC 1333

We present new observations of the active star-formation region NGC 1333 in the Perseus molecular cloud complex from the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope B-Fields In Star-forming Region Observations (BISTRO) survey with the POL-2 instrument. The BISTRO data cover the entire NGC 1333 complex (~1.5 pc x 2 pc) at 0.02 pc resolution and spatially resolve the polarized emission from individual filamentary structures for the first time. The inferred magnetic field structure is complex as a whole, with each individual filament aligned at different position angles relative to the local field orientation. We combine the BISTRO data with low- and high- resolution data derived from Planck and interferometers to study the multiscale magnetic field structure in this region. The magnetic field morphology drastically changes below a scale of ~1 pc and remains continuous from the scales of filaments (~0.1 pc) to that of protostellar envelopes (~0.005 pc or ~1000 au). Finally, we construct simple models in which we assume that the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the long axis of the filaments. We demonstrate that the observed variation of the relative orientation between the filament axes and the magnetic field angles are well reproduced by this model, taking into account the projection effects of the magnetic field and filaments relative to the plane of the sky. These projection effects may explain the apparent complexity of the magnetic field structure observed at the resolution of BISTRO data toward the filament network.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Limits on the Spin-Orbit Angle and Atmospheric Escape for the 22 Myr-old Planet AU Mic b

We obtained spectra of the pre-main sequence star AU Microscopii during a transit of its Neptune-sized planet to investigate its orbit and atmosphere. We used the high-dispersion near-infrared spectrograph IRD on the Subaru telescope to detect the Doppler "shadow" from the planet and constrain the projected stellar obliquity. Modeling of the observed planetary Doppler shadow suggests a spin-orbit alignment of the system ($λ=-4.7_{-6.4}^{+6.8}$ degrees), but additional observations are needed to confirm this finding. We use both the IRD data and spectra obtained with NIRSPEC on Keck-II to search for absorption in the 1083 nm line of metastable triplet He I by the planet's atmosphere and place an upper limit for the equivalent width of 3.7 mÅat 99 $\%$ confidence. With this limit and a Parker wind model we constrain the escape rate from the atmosphere to $<0.15-0.45\, M_{\oplus}$ Gyr$^{-1}$, comparable to the rates predicted by an XUV energy-limited escape calculation and hydrodynamic models, but refinement of the planet mass is needed for rigorous tests.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

Simulations Predicting the Ability of Multi-Color Simultaneous Photometry to Distinguish TESS Candidate Exoplanets from False Positives

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is currently concluding its 2-year primary science mission searching 85% of the sky for transiting exoplanets. TESS has already discovered well over one thousand TESS objects of interest (TOIs), but these candidate exoplanets must be distinguished from astrophysical false positives using other instruments or techniques. The 3-band Multi-color Simultaneous Camera for Studying Atmospheres of Transiting Planets (MuSCAT), as well as the 4-band MuSCAT2, can be used to validate TESS discoveries. Transits of exoplanets are achromatic when observed in multiple bandpasses, while transit depths for false positives often vary with wavelength. We created software tools to simulate MuSCAT/MuSCAT2 TESS follow-up observations and reveal which planet candidates can be efficiently distinguished from blended eclipsing binary (BEB) false positives using these two instruments, and which must be validated using other techniques. We applied our software code to the Barclay et al. (2018) predicted TESS discoveries, as well as to TOIs downloaded from the ExoFOP-TESS website. We estimate that MuSCAT (MuSCAT2 values in parentheses) will be able to use its multi-color capabilities to distinguish BEB false positives for $\sim$17% ($\sim$18%) of all TESS discoveries, and $\sim$13% ($\sim$15%) of $R_{\rm pl} < 4R_\oplus$ discoveries. Our TOI analysis shows that MuSCAT (MuSCAT2) can distinguish BEB false positives for $\sim$55% ($\sim$52%) of TOIs with transit depths greater than 0.001, for $\sim$64% ($\sim$61%) of TOIs with transit depths greater than 0.002, and for $\sim$70% ($\sim$68%) of TOIs with transit depth greater than 0.003. Our work shows that MuSCAT and MuSCAT2 can validate hundreds of $R_{\rm pl} < 4R_\oplus$ candidate exoplanets, thus supporting the TESS mission in achieving its Level 1 Science Requirement.

astro-ph.EP↗