arXiv subjects

Shenghong Gu

Publications and source records attributed to Shenghong Gu.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

WASP-35 and HAT-P-30/WASP-51: re-analysis using TESS and ground-based transit photometry

High-precision transit observations provide excellent opportunities for characterizing the physical properties of exoplanetary systems. These physical properties supply many pieces of information for unvealing the internal structure, external atmosphere, and dynamical history of the planets. We present revised properties of transiting systems WASP-35 and HAT-P-30/WASP-51 through analyzing newly available TESS photometry and ground-based observations obtained at 1m telescope of Yunnan Observatories as well as from the literature. The improved system parameters are consistent with the previous results. Furthermore, we find that HAT-P-30b/WASP-51b's transits show significant timing variation which cannot be explained by decaying orbit due to tidal dissipation and the Rømer effect, while both apsidal precession and an additional perturbing body could reproduce this signal through our comprehensive dynamical simulations. Because both of them are valuable targets which are suitable for transmission spectroscopy, we make some predictions for atmospheric properties of WASP-35b and HAT-P-30b/WASP-51b based on newly derived system parameters.

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arXiv2021

A highly mutually-inclined, compact warm-Jupiter system KOI-984 ?

The discovery of a population of close-orbiting giant planets ($\le$ 1 au) has raised a number of questions about their origins and dynamical histories. These issues have still not yet been fully resolved, despite over 20 years of exoplanet detections and a large number of discovered exoplanets. In particular, it is unclear whether warm Jupiters (WJs) form in situ, or whether they migrate from further outside and are even currently migrating to form hot Jupiters (HJs). Here, we report the possible discovery and characterization of the planets in a highly mutually-inclined ($I_{\rm mut}\simeq 45^\circ$), compact two-planet system (KOI-984), in which the newly discovered warm Jupiter KOI-984$c$ is on a 21.5-day, moderately eccentric ($e\simeq 0.4$) orbit, in addition to a previously known 4.3-day planet candidate KOI-984$b$. Meanwhile, the orbital configuration of a moderately inclined ($I_{\rm mut}\simeq 15^\circ$), low-mass ($m_{c}\simeq 24 M_{\oplus}$;$P_b\simeq 8.6$ days) perturbing planet near 1:2 mean motion resonace with KOI-984$b$ could also well reproduce observed transit timing variations and transit duration variations of KOI-984$b$. Such an eccentric WJ with a close-in sibling would pose a challenge to the proposed formation and migration mechanisms of WJs, if the first scenario is supported with more evidences in near future; this system with several other well-measured inclined WJ systems (e.g., Kepler-419 and Kepler-108) may provide additional clues for the origin and dynamical histories of WJs.

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arXiv2021

Starspot evolution, Differential Rotation and Correlation between Chromospheric and Photospheric Activities on Kepler-411

We present an analysis of the starspot evolution, the surface differential rotation (SDR), the correlation between chromospheric activity indicators and the spatial connection between chromospheric and photospheric activities on the active star Kepler-411, using time series photometry over 4 years from Kepler, and spectroscopic data from Keck I 10-m telescope and Lijiang 2.4-m telescope. We constructed the light curve by re-performing photometry and reduction from the Target Pixel Files and Cotrending Basis Vectors with a manually redefined aperture using the software PyKE3. An efficient program, GEMC_LCM, was developed to apply a two-spots model to chosen light curve segments with three spot groups at fixed latitudes (30, 45), (30, 60) and (45, 60). We found a periodic variation of the starspots at period of about 660 days which independs on spot latitudes, and estimated the lower limit of SDR as $P_{\text{eq}} = 9.7810(0.0169)$ days and $α= 0.1016(0.0023)$. Simultaneously, the relative variations of chromospheric activity indicators were derived by subtracting the overall mean spectrum from individual spectrum. It is found that Ca II H and K emissions are strongly correlated with each other, and there also exists a correlation between H$α$ and Ca II H & K emissions, with large dispersion, in accordance with previous results. Furthermore we find the correlation between Ca II H and K emissions is different in 2011 and 2012. The chromospheric emission variation shows a highly spatial anti-correlation with the light curve, suggesting a spatial connection between the chromospheric active region and spot region.

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arXiv2020

Doppler imaging and differential rotation of $σ^{2}$ Coronae Borealis using SONG

We present new Doppler images of both components of the double-lined binary $σ^{2}$ CrB, based on the high-resolution spectroscopic data collected during 11 nights in 2015 March--April. The observed spectra form two independent data sets with sufficient phase coverage. We apply the least-squares deconvolution to all observed spectra to obtain high signal-to-noise mean profiles, from which we derive the Doppler images of both components of $σ^{2}$ CrB simultaneously. The surfaces of both F9 and G0 components are dominated by pronounced polar spots. The F9 component exhibits a weak spot at latitude 30$^{\circ}$ and its mid-to-low latitudes are relatively featureless. The G0 star shows an extended spot structure at latitude 30$^{\circ}$, and its surface spot coverage is larger than that of the F9 star, which suggests a higher level of magnetic activity. With the cross-correlation method, we derive a solar-like surface differential rotation on the G0 star of $σ^{2}$ CrB for the first time, and the surface shear rate is $ΔΩ= 0.180 \pm 0.004$ rad d$^{-1}$ and $α= ΔΩ/ Ω_{eq} = 0.032 \pm 0.001$. We do not obtain a clear surface shear law for the F9 star due to the lack of mid-to-low latitude features, but detect a systematic longitude shift of high-latitude spots, which indicates a slower rotation with respect to the co-rotating frame.

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arXiv2020

The first Doppler imaging of the active binary prototype RS Canum Venaticorum

We present the first Doppler images of the prototypical active binary star RS CVn, derived from high-resolution spectra observed in 2004, 2016 and 2017, using three different telescopes and observing sites. We apply the least-squares deconvolution technique to all observed spectra to obtain high signal-to-noise line profiles, which are used to derive the surface images of the active K-type component. Our images show a complex spot pattern on the K star, distributed widely in longitude. All starspots revealed by our Doppler images are located below a latitude of about 70$^{\circ}$. In accordance with previous light-curve modeling studies, we find no indication of a polar spot on the K star. Using Doppler images derived from two consecutive rotational cycles, we estimate a surface differential rotation rate of $ΔΩ= -0.039 \pm 0.003 ~rad~d^{-1}$ and $α= ΔΩ/Ω_{eq} = -0.030 \pm 0.002$ for the K star. Given the limited phase coverage during those two rotations, the uncertainty of our differential rotation estimate is presumably higher.

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arXiv2019

Kepler-411: a four-planet system with an active host star

We present a detailed characterization of the Kepler-411 system (KOI 1781). This system was previously known to host two transiting planets: one with a period of 3 days ($R=2.4R_\oplus$; Kepler-411b) and one with a period of 7.8 days ($R=4.4R_\oplus$; Kepler-411c), as well as a transiting planetary candidate with a 58-day period ($R=3.3R_\oplus$; KOI 1781.03) from Kepler photometry. Here, we combine Kepler photometry data and new transit timing variation (TTV) measurements from all the Kepler quarters with previous adaptive-optics imaging results, and dynamical simulations, in order to constrain the properties of the Kepler-411 system. From our analysis, we obtain masses of 25.6$\pm$2.6$M_\oplus$ for Kepler-411b and 26.4$\pm$5.9 $M_\oplus$ for Kepler-411c, and we confirm the planetary nature of KOI 1781.03 with a mass of 15.2$\pm$5.1$M_\oplus$, hence the name Kepler-411d. Furthermore, by assuming near-coplanarity of the system (mutual inclination below $30^\circ$), we discover a nontransiting planet, Kepler-411e, with a mass of 10.8$\pm$1.1$M_\oplus$ on a 31.5-day orbit, which has a strong dynamical interaction with Kepler-411d. With densities of $1.71\pm0.39$~g\,cm$^{-3}$ and $2.32\pm0.83$~g\,cm$^{-3}$, both Kepler-411c and Kepler-411d belong to the group of planets with a massive core and a significant fraction of volatiles. Although Kepler-411b has a sub-Neptune size, it belongs to the group of rocky planets.

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arXiv2018

A Search for Exoplanets around Northern Circumpolar Stars. IV. Six Planet Candidates to the K Giants, HD 44385, HD 97619, HD 106574, HD 118904, HD 164428, and HD 202432

We report the discovery of long-period radial velocity (RV) variations in six intermediate-mass K-giant stars using precise RV measurements. These discoveries are part of the Search for Exoplanets around Northern Circumpolar Stars (SENS) survey being conducted at the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory. The nature of the RV variations was investigated by looking for photometric and line shape variations. We can find no variability with the RV period in these quantities and conclude that RV variations are most likely due to unseen sub-stellar companions. Orbital solutions for the six stars yield orbital periods in the range 418-1065 days and minimum masses in the range 1.9-8.5 MJ. These properties are typical on planets around intermediate-mass stars. Our SENS survey so far has about an 8% confirmed planet occurrence rate, and it will provide better statistics on planets around giant stars when the survey is completed.

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arXiv2017

Search for Exoplanets around Northern Circumpolar Stars- II. The Detection of Radial Velocity Variations in M Giant Stars HD 36384, HD 52030, and HD 208742

We present the detection of long-period RV variations in HD 36384, HD 52030, and HD 208742 by using the high-resolution, fiber-fed Bohyunsan Observatory Echelle Spectrograph (BOES) for the precise radial velocity (RV) survey of about 200 northern circumpolar stars. Analyses of RV data, chromospheric activity indicators, and bisector variations spanning about five years suggest that the RV variations are compatible with planet or brown dwarf companions in Keplerian motion. However, HD 36384 shows photometric variations with a period very close to that of RV variations as well as amplitude variations in the weighted wavelet Z-transform (WWZ) analysis, which argues that the RV variations in HD~36384 are from the stellar pulsations. Assuming that the companion hypothesis is correct, HD~52030 hosts a companion with minimum mass 13.3 M_Jup$ orbiting in 484 days at a distance of 1.2 AU. HD~208742 hosts a companion of 14.0 M_Jup at 1.5 AU with a period of 602 days. All stars are located at the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stage on the H-R diagram after undergone the helium flash and left the giant clump.With stellar radii of 53.0 R_Sun and 57.2 R_Sun for HD 52030 and HD 208742, respectively, these stars may be the largest yet, in terms of stellar radius, found to host sub-stellar companions. However, given possible RV amplitude variations and the fact that these are highly evolved stars the planet hypothesis is not yet certain.

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arXiv2015

The first Doppler images of the eclipsing binary SZ Piscium

We present the first Doppler images of the active eclipsing binary system SZ Psc, based on the high-resolution spectral data sets obtained in 2004 November and 2006 September--December. The least-squares deconvolution technique was applied to derive high signal-to-noise profiles from the observed spectra of SZ Psc. Absorption features contributed by a third component of the system were detected in the LSD profiles at all observed phases. We estimated the mass and period of the third component to be about $0.9 M_{\odot}$ and $1283 \pm 10$ d, respectively. After removing the contribution of the third body from the LSD profiles, we derived the surface maps of SZ Psc. The resulting Doppler images indicate significant starspot activities on the surface of the K subgiant component. The distributions of starspots are more complex than that revealed by previous photometric studies. The cooler K component exhibited pronounced high-latitude spots as well as numerous low- and intermediate-latitude spot groups during the entire observing seasons, but did not show any large, stable polar cap, different from many other active RS CVn-type binaries.

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arXiv2014

Doppler images of the eclipsing binary ER Vulpeculae

We present Doppler images of both components of the eclipsing binary system ER Vul, based on the spectra obtained in 2004 November, 2006 September and 2008 November. The least-squares deconvolution technique is used for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratios of the observed profiles. The new surface images reveal that both stars of ER Vul show strong starspot activities and the starspots appear at various latitudes. The surface maps of 2006 and 2008 both show the presence of large high-latitude starspots on each component of ER Vul. We find no obvious phase shift of the active regions during our observations. The longitude distributions of starspots are non-uniform on both stars. At low-to-mid latitudes, the active regions are almost exclusively found in the hemisphere facing the other star. However, we find no pronounced concentration of spots at the sub-stellar points.

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