## Sunday, August 20, 2017

### Analytic Expressions for the Inner-Rim Structure of Passively Heated Protoplanetary Disks

Analytic Expressions for the Inner-Rim Structure of Passively Heated Protoplanetary Disks

Authors:

Ueda et al

Abstract:
We analytically derive the expressions for the structure of the inner region of protoplanetary disks based on the results from the recent hydrodynamical simulations. The inner part of a disk can be divided into four regions: dust-free region with gas temperature in the optically thin limit, optically thin dust halo, optically thick condensation front and the classical optically thick region in order from the inside. We derive the dust-to-gas mass ratio profile in the dust halo using the fact that partial dust condensation regulates the temperature to the dust evaporation temperature. Beyond the dust halo, there is an optically thick condensation front where all the available silicate gas condenses out. The curvature of the condensation surface is determined by the condition that the surface temperature must be nearly equal to the characteristic temperature ∼1200K. We derive the mid-plane temperature in the outer two regions using the two-layer approximation with the additional heating by the condensation front for the outermost region. As a result, the overall temperature profile is step-like with steep gradients at the borders between the outer three regions. The borders might act as planet traps where the inward migration of planets due to gravitational interaction with the gas disk stops. The temperature at the border between the two outermost regions coincides with the temperature needed to activate magnetorotational instability, suggesting that the inner edge of the dead zone must lie at this border. The radius of the dead-zone inner edge predicted from our solution is ∼ 2-3 times larger than that expected from the classical optically thick temperature.

### Exploring dust around HD 142527 down to 0.025" / 4au using SPHERE/ZIMPOL

Exploring dust around HD142527 down to 0.025" / 4au using SPHERE/ZIMPOL

Authors:

Avenhaus et al

Abstract:

We have observed the protoplanetary disk of the well-known young Herbig star HD 142527 using ZIMPOL Polarimetric Differential Imaging with the VBB (Very Broad Band, ~600-900nm) filter. We obtained two datasets in May 2015 and March 2016. Our data allow us to explore dust scattering around the star down to a radius of ~0.025" (~4au). The well-known outer disk is clearly detected, at higher resolution than before, and shows previously unknown sub-structures, including spirals going inwards into the cavity. Close to the star, dust scattering is detected at high signal-to-noise ratio, but it is unclear whether the signal represents the inner disk, which has been linked to the two prominent local minima in the scattering of the outer disk, interpreted as shadows. An interpretation of an inclined inner disk combined with a dust halo is compatible with both our and previous observations, but other arrangements of the dust cannot be ruled out. Dust scattering is also present within the large gap between ~30 and ~140au. The comparison of the two datasets suggests rapid evolution of the inner regions of the disk, potentially driven by the interaction with the close-in M-dwarf companion, around which no polarimetric signal is detected.

### In situ accretion of gaseous envelopes on to planetary cores embedded in evolving protoplanetary discs

In situ accretion of gaseous envelopes on to planetary cores embedded in evolving protoplanetary discs

Authors:

Coleman et al

Abstract:
The core accretion hypothesis posits that planets with significant gaseous envelopes accreted them from their protoplanetary discs after the formation of rocky/icy cores. Observations indicate that such exoplanets exist at a broad range of orbital radii, but it is not known whether they accreted their envelopes in situ, or originated elsewhere and migrated to their current locations. We consider the evolution of solid cores embedded in evolving viscous discs that undergo gaseous envelope accretion in situ with orbital radii in the range 0.1−10au. Additionally, we determine the long-term evolution of the planets that had no runaway gas accretion phase after disc dispersal. We find: (i) Planets with 5M⊕ cores never undergo runaway accretion. The most massive envelope contained 2.8M⊕ with the planet orbiting at 10au. (ii) Accretion is more efficient onto 10M⊕ and 15M⊕ cores. For orbital radii ap≥0.5au, 15M⊕ cores always experienced runaway gas accretion. For ap≥5au, all but one of the 10M⊕ cores experienced runaway gas accretion. No planets experienced runaway growth at ap=0.1au. (iii) We find that, after disc dispersal, planets with significant gaseous envelopes cool and contract on Gyr time-scales, the contraction time being sensitive to the opacity assumed. Our results indicate that Hot Jupiters with core masses ≲15M⊕ at ≲0.1au likely accreted their gaseous envelopes at larger distances and migrated inwards. Consistently with the known exoplanet population, Super-Earths and mini-Neptunes at small radii during the disc lifetime, accrete only modest gaseous envelopes.

## Saturday, August 19, 2017

### Binary Star Formation and the Outflows from their Disks

Binary Star Formation and the Outflows from their Discs

Authors:

Kuruwita et al

Abstract:
We carry out magnetohydrodynamical simulations with FLASH of the formation of a single, a tight binary (a∼2.5 AU) and a wide binary star (a∼45 AU). We study the outflows and jets from these systems to understand the contributions the circumstellar and circumbinary discs have on the efficiency and morphology of the outflow. In the single star and tight binary case we obtain a single pair of jets launched from the system, while in the wide binary case two pairs of jets are observed. This implies that in the tight binary case the contribution of the circumbinary disc on the outflow is greater than that in the wide binary case. We also find that the single star case is the most efficient at transporting mass, linear and angular momentum from the system, while the wide binary case is less efficient (∼50%,∼33%,∼42% of the respective quantities in the single star case). The tight binary's efficiency falls between the other two cases (∼71%,∼66%,∼87% of the respective quantities in the single star case). By studying the magnetic field structure we deduce that the outflows in the single star and tight binary star case are magnetocentrifugally driven, whereas in the wide binary star case the outflows are driven by a magnetic pressure gradient.

### HD far infrared emission as a measure of protoplanetary disk mass

HD far infrared emission as a measure of protoplanetary disk mass

Authors:

Trapman et al

Abstract:
Protoplanetary disks around young stars are the sites of planet formation. While the dust mass can be estimated using standard methods, determining the gas mass - and thus the amount of material available to form giant planets - has proven to be very difficult. Hydrogen deuteride (HD) is a promising alternative to the commonly-used gas mass tracer, CO. We aim to examine the robustness of HD as tracer of the disk gas mass, specifically the effect of gas mass on the HD FIR emission and its sensitivity to the vertical structure. Deuterium chemistry reactions relevant for HD were implemented in the thermochemical code DALI and models were run for a range of disk masses and vertical structures. The HD J=1-0 line intensity depends directly on the gas mass through a sublinear power law relation with a slope of ~0.8. Assuming no prior knowledge about the vertical structure of a disk and using only the HD 1-0 flux, gas masses can be estimated to within a factor of 2 for low mass disks (Mdisk less than 10−3 M⊙). For more massive disks, this uncertainty increases to more than an order of magnitude. Adding the HD 2-1 line or independent information about the vertical structure can reduce this uncertainty to a factor of ~3 for all disk masses. For TW Hya, using the radial and vertical structure from Kama et al. 2016b the observations constrain the gas mass to 6⋅10−3 M⊙ less than Mdisk less than 9⋅10−3 M⊙. Future observations require a 5σ sensitivity of 1.8⋅10−20 W m−2 (2.5⋅10−20 W m−2) and a spectral resolving power R greater than 300 (1000) to detect HD 1-0 (HD 2-1) for all disk masses above 10−5 M⊙ with a line-to-continuum ratio greater than 0.01. These results show that HD can be used as an independent gas mass tracer with a relatively low uncertainty and should be considered as an important science goal for future FIR missions.

### Increased H2CO production in the outer disk around HD 163296

Increased H2CO production in the outer disk around HD 163296

Authors:

Hallam et al

Abstract:
It is known that an embedded massive planet will open a gap in a protoplanetary disc via angular momentum exchange with the disc material. The resulting surface density profile of the disc is investigated for one dimensional and two dimensional disc models and, in agreement with previous work, it is found that one dimensional gaps are significantly deeper than their two dimensional counterparts for the same initial conditions. We find, by applying one dimensional torque density distributions to two dimensional discs containing no planet, that the excitement of the Rossby wave instability and the formation of Rossby vortices play a critical role in setting the equilibrium depth of the gap. Being a two dimensional instability, this is absent from one dimensional simulations and does not limit the equilibrium gap depth there. We find similar gap depths between two dimensional gaps formed by torque density distributions, in which the Rossby wave instability is present, and two dimensional planet gaps, in which no Rossby wave instability is present. This can be understood if the planet gap is maintained at marginal stability, even when there is no obvious Rossby wave instability present. Further investigation shows the final equilibrium gap depth is very sensitive to the form of the applied torque density distribution, and using improved one dimensional approximations from three dimensional simulations can go even further to reducing the discrepancy between one and two dimensional models, especially for lower mass planets. This behaviour is found to be consistent across discs with varying parameters.

## Friday, August 18, 2017

### The Viewing Geometry of Brown Dwarfs Influences Their Observed Colours and Variability Properties

The Viewing Geometry of Brown Dwarfs Influences Their Observed Colours and Variability Properties

Authors:

Vos et al

Abstract:
In this paper we study the full sample of known Spitzer [3.6 μm] and J-band variable brown dwarfs. We calculate the rotational velocities, vsini, of 16 variable brown dwarfs using archival Keck NIRSPEC data and compute the inclination angles of 19 variable brown dwarfs.

The results obtained show that all objects in the sample with mid-IR variability detections are inclined at an angle >20∘, while all objects in the sample displaying J-band variability have an inclination angle >35∘. J-band variability appears to be more affected by inclination than \textit{Spitzer} [3.6 μm] variability, and is strongly attenuated at lower inclinations. Since J-band observations probe deeper into the atmosphere than mid-IR observations, this effect may be due to the increased atmospheric path length of J-band flux at lower inclinations.

We find a statistically significant correlation between the colour anomaly and inclination of our sample, where field objects viewed equator-on appear redder than objects viewed at lower inclinations. Considering the full sample of known variable L, T and Y spectral type objects in the literature, we find that the variability properties of the two bands display notably different trends, due to both intrinsic differences between bands and the sensitivity of ground-based versus space-based searches. However, in both bands we find that variability amplitude may reach a maximum at ∼7−9 hr periods. Finally, we find a strong correlation between colour anomaly and variability amplitude for both the J-band and mid-IR variability detections, where redder objects display higher variability amplitudes.

### HD 202206: A Circumbinary Brown Dwarf System

HD 202206: A Circumbinary Brown Dwarf System
Authors:

Benedict et al

Abstract:
Using Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensor astrometry and previously published radial velocity measures, we explore the exoplanetary system HD 202206. Our modeling results in a parallax, ${\pi }_{\mathrm{abs}}=21.96\pm 0.12$ milliseconds of arc, a mass for HD 202206 B of ${{ \mathcal M }}_{B}={0.089}_{-0.006}^{+0.007}\,{{ \mathcal M }}_{\odot }$, and a mass for HD 202206 c of ${{ \mathcal M }}_{c}={17.9}_{-1.8}^{+2.9}\,{{ \mathcal M }}_{\mathrm{Jup}}$. HD 202206 is a nearly face-on G + M binary orbited by a brown dwarf. The system architecture that we determine supports past assertions that stability requires a 5:1 mean motion resonance (we find a period ratio, ${P}_{c}/{P}_{B}=4.92\pm 0.04$) and coplanarity (we find a mutual inclination, ${\rm{\Phi }}=6^\circ \pm 2^\circ$).

### A survey for planetary-mass brown dwarfs in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region

A survey for planetary-mass brown dwarfs in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region

Authors:

Esplin et al

Abstract:
We have performed a search for planetary-mass brown dwarfs in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region using proper motions and photometry measured from optical and infrared images from the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based facilities. Through near-infrared spectroscopy at Gemini Observatory, we have confirmed six of the candidates as new late-type members of Chamaeleon I >M7.75. One of these objects, Cha J11110675-7636030, has the faintest extinction-corrected M_K among known members, which corresponds to a mass of 3-6 M_Jup according to evolutionary models. That object and two other new members have redder mid-IR colors than young photospheres at greater than M9.5, which may indicate the presence of disks. However, since those objects may be later than M9.5 and the mid-IR colors of young photospheres are ill-defined at those types, we cannot determine conclusively whether color excesses from disks are present. If Cha J11110675-7636030 does have a disk, it would be a contender for the least-massive known brown dwarf with a disk. Since the new brown dwarfs that we have found extend below our completeness limit of 6-10 M_Jup, deeper observations are needed to measure the minimum mass of the initial mass function in Chamaeleon I.

## Thursday, August 17, 2017

### A feature-rich transmission spectrum for WASP-127b

A feature-rich transmission spectrum for WASP-127b

Authors:

Palle et al

Abstract:

WASP-127b is one of the lowest density planets discovered to date. With a sub-Saturn mass (Mp=0.18±0.02MJ) and super-Jupiter radius (Rp=1.37±0.04RJ), it orbits a bright G5 star, which is about to leave the main-sequence. We aim to explore WASP-127b's atmosphere in order to retrieve its main atmospheric components, and to find hints for its intriguing inflation and evolutionary history. We used the ALFOSC spectrograph at the NOT telescope to observe a low resolution (R∼330, seeing limited) long-slit spectroscopic time series during a planetary transit, and present here the first transmission spectrum for WASP-127b. We find the presence of a strong Rayleigh slope at blue wavelengths and a hint of Na absorption, although the quality of the data does not allow us to claim a detection. At redder wavelengths the absorption features of TiO and VO are the best explanation to fit the data. Although higher signal-to-noise ratio observations are needed to conclusively confirm the absorption features, WASP-127b seems to posses a cloud-free atmosphere and is one of the best targets to perform further characterization studies in the near future.

### 10 Million Year Old Star PDS 110 has a Hot Jupiter

Periodic Eclipses of the Young Star PDS 110 Discovered with WASP and KELT Photometry

Authors:

Osborn et al

Abstract:
We report the discovery of eclipses by circumstellar disc material associated with the young star PDS 110 in the Ori OB1a association using the SuperWASP and KELT surveys. PDS 110 (HD 290380, IRAS 05209-0107) is a rare Fe/Ge-type star, a ~10 Myr-old accreting intermediate-mass star showing strong infrared excess (LIR/Lbol ~ 0.25). Two extremely similar eclipses with a depth of ~30\% and duration ~25 days were observed in November 2008 and January 2011. We interpret the eclipses as caused by the same structure with an orbital period of 808±2 days. Shearing over a single orbit rules out diffuse dust clumps as the cause, favouring the hypothesis of a companion at ~2AU. The characteristics of the eclipses are consistent with transits by an unseen low-mass (1.8-70MJup) planet or brown dwarf with a circum-secondary disc of diameter ~0.3 AU. The next eclipse event is predicted to take place in September 2017 and could be monitored by amateur and professional observatories across the world.

### New Insights on Planet Formation in WASP-47 from a Simultaneous Analysis of Radial Velocities and Transit Timing Variations

New Insights on Planet Formation in WASP-47 from a Simultaneous Analysis of Radial Velocities and Transit Timing Variations

Authors:

Weiss et al

Abstract:
Measuring precise planet masses, densities, and orbital dynamics in individual planetary systems is an important pathway toward understanding planet formation. The WASP-47 system has an unusual architecture that motivates a complex formation theory. The system includes a hot Jupiter ("b") neighbored by interior ("e") and exterior ("d") sub-Neptunes, and a long-period eccentric giant planet ("c"). We simultaneously modeled transit times from the Kepler K2 mission and 118 radial velocities to determine the precise masses, densities, and Keplerian orbital elements of the WASP-47 planets. Combining RVs and TTVs provides a better estimate of the mass of planet d ($13.6\pm 2.0\,{M}_{\oplus }$) than that obtained with only RVs ($12.75\pm 2.70\,{M}_{\oplus }$) or TTVs ($16.1\pm 3.8\,{M}_{\oplus }$). Planets e and d have high densities for their size, consistent with a history of photoevaporation and/or formation in a volatile-poor environment. Through our RV and TTV analysis, we find that the planetary orbits have eccentricities similar to the solar system planets. The WASP-47 system has three similarities to our own solar system: (1) the planetary orbits are nearly circular and coplanar, (2) the planets are not trapped in mean motion resonances, and (3) the planets have diverse compositions. None of the current single-process exoplanet formation theories adequately reproduce these three characteristics of the WASP-47 system (or our solar system). We propose that WASP-47, like the solar system, formed in two stages: first, the giant planets formed in a gas-rich disk and migrated to their present locations, and second, the high-density sub-Neptunes formed in situ in a gas-poor environment.

## Wednesday, August 16, 2017

### An upper limit on the mass of the circumplanetary disk for DH Tau b

An upper limit on the mass of the circumplanetary disk for DH Tau b

Authors:

Wolff et al

Abstract:
DH Tau is a young (∼1 Myr) classical T Tauri star. It is one of the few young PMS stars known to be associated with a planetary mass companion, DH Tau b, orbiting at large separation and detected by direct imaging. DH Tau b is thought to be accreting based on copious Hα emission and exhibits variable Paschen Beta emission. NOEMA observations at 230 GHz allow us to place constraints on the disk dust mass for both DH Tau b and the primary in a regime where the disks will appear optically thin. We estimate a disk dust mass for the primary, DH Tau A of 17.2±1.7M⊕, which gives a disk-to-star mass ratio of 0.014 (assuming the usual Gas-to-Dust mass ratio of 100 in the disk). We find a conservative disk dust mass upper limit of 0.42M⊕ for DH Tau b, assuming that the disk temperature is dominated by irradiation from DH Tau b itself. Given the environment of the circumplanetary disk, variable illumination from the primary or the equilibrium temperature of the surrounding cloud would lead to even lower disk mass estimates. A MCFOST radiative transfer model including heating of the circumplanetary disk by DH Tau b and DH Tau A suggests that a mass averaged disk temperature of 22 K is more realistic, resulting in a dust disk mass upper limit of 0.09M⊕ for DH Tau b. We place DH Tau b in context with similar objects and discuss the consequences for planet formation models.

### Internal Structure of Giant and Icy Planets: Importance of Heavy Elements and Mixing

Internal Structure of Giant and Icy Planets: Importance of Heavy Elements and Mixing

Authors:
Helled et al

Abstract:
In this chapter we summarize current knowledge of the internal structure of giant planets. We concentrate on the importance of heavy elements and their role in determining the planetary composition and internal structure, in planet formation, and during the planetary long-term evolution. We briefly discuss how internal structure models are derived, present the possible structures of the outer planets in the Solar System, and summarise giant planet formation and evolution. Finally, we introduce giant exoplanets and discuss how they can be used to better understand giant planets as a class of planetary objects.

### Moderately Eccentric Warm Jupiters from Secular Interactions with Exterior Companions

Moderately Eccentric Warm Jupiters from Secular Interactions with Exterior Companions

Authors:

Anderson et al

Abstract:
Recent work suggests that most warm Jupiters (WJs, giant planets with semi-major axes in the range of 0.1-1 AU) probably form in-situ, or arrive in their observed orbits through disk migration. However, both in-situ formation and disk migration, in their simplest flavors, predict WJs to be in low-eccentricity orbits, in contradiction with many observed WJs that are moderately eccentric (e=0.2−0.7). This paper examines the possibility that the WJ eccentricities are raised by secular interactions with exterior giant planet companions. Eccentricity growth may arise from an inclined companion (through Lidov-Kozai cycles), or from an eccentric, nearly coplanar companion. We quantify the necessary conditions (in terms of the eccentricity, semi-major axis and inclination) for external perturbers of various masses to raise the WJ eccentricity. We also consider the sample of eccentric WJs with detected outer companions, and for each system, identify the range of mutual inclinations needed to generate the observed eccentricity. For most systems, we find that relatively high inclinations (at least ∼40∘) are needed so that Lidov-Kozai cycles are induced; the observed outer companions are typically not sufficiently eccentric to generate the observed WJ eccentricity in a low-inclination configuration. The results of this paper place constraints on possibly unseen external companions to eccentric WJs. Observations that probe mutual inclinations of giant planet systems will help clarify the origin of eccentric WJs and the role of external companions.

## Tuesday, August 15, 2017

### Compositional imprints in density-distance-time: a rocky composition for close-in low-mass exoplanets from the location of the valley of evaporation

Compositional imprints in density-distance-time: a rocky composition for close-in low-mass exoplanets from the location of the valley of evaporation

Authors:

Jin et al

Abstract:
We use a theoretical end-to-end model that includes planet formation, thermodynamic evolution, and atmospheric escape to investigate how the statistical imprints of evaporation depend on the bulk composition of the planetary cores (rocky vs. icy). We find that the typical population-wide imprints of evaporation like the location of the "evaporation valley" in the distance-radius plane and the corresponding one-dimensional bimodal distribution in planetary radii are clearly different depending on the bulk composition of close-in low-mass planetary cores. Comparison with the observed position of the valley as found recently by Fulton et al. (2017) suggests that Kepler planets in this domain have a predominately Earth-like rocky composition. Combined with the excess of period ratios outside of MMR, this suggests that low-mass Kepler planets formed inside of the iceline, but still undergoing orbital migration. The core radius becomes visible for planets losing all primordial H/He. For such planets in the "triangle of evaporation" in the distance-radius plane, the degeneracy in possible compositions is reduced. In the observed a-R diagram, we identify a trend to more volatile-rich compositions with increasing planet radius and potentially distance (R/R_earth less than 1.6 rocky; 1.6-3.0 H/He and/or ices; > 3: H/He). Moreover, we find that the mass-density distribution contains important information about planet formation and evolution. Evaporation removes close-in low-mass planets with low density in the mass-density space. This causes density and orbital distance to be anti-correlated for low-mass planets, in contrast to giant planets, where closer planets are less dense, due to inflation mechanisms. The temporal evolution of the statistical properties of the population reported here will be of particular interest for the future PLATO 2.0 mission which will be able to observe the temporal dimension.

### K2-66b and K2-106b: Two Extremely Hot Sub-Neptune-size Planets with High Densities

Sinukoff et al

Abstract:

We report precise mass and density measurements of two extremely hot sub-Neptune-size planets from the K2 mission using radial velocities, K2 photometry, and adaptive optics imaging. K2-66 harbors a close-in sub-Neptune-sized (${2.49}_{-0.24}^{+0.34}$ ${R}_{\oplus }$) planet (K2-66b) with a mass of $21.3\pm 3.6$ ${M}_{\oplus }$. Because the star is evolving up the subgiant branch, K2-66b receives a high level of irradiation, roughly twice the main-sequence value. K2-66b may reside within the so-called "photoevaporation desert," a domain of planet size and incident flux that is almost completely devoid of planets. Its mass and radius imply that K2-66b has, at most, a meager envelope fraction (less than 5%) and perhaps no envelope at all, making it one of the largest planets without a significant envelope. K2-106 hosts an ultra-short-period planet (P = 13.7 hr) that is one of the hottest sub-Neptune-size planets discovered to date. Its radius (${1.82}_{-0.14}^{+0.20}$ ${R}_{\oplus }$) and mass ($9.0\pm 1.6$ ${M}_{\oplus }$) are consistent with a rocky composition, as are all other small ultra-short-period planets with well-measured masses. K2-106 also hosts a larger, longer-period planet (${R}_{{\rm{p}}}$ = ${2.77}_{-0.23}^{+0.37}$ ${R}_{\oplus }$, P = 13.3 days) with a mass less than $24.4$ ${M}_{\oplus }$ at 99.7% confidence. K2-66b and K2-106b probe planetary physics in extreme radiation environments. Their high densities reflect the challenge of retaining a substantial gas envelope in such extreme environments.

### Water in SuperEarth 55 Cancri e's Atmosphere

A Search for Water in a Super-Earth Atmosphere: High-resolution Optical Spectroscopy of 55Cancri e
Authors:
Esteves et al

Abstract:

We present the analysis of high-resolution optical spectra of four transits of 55Cnc e, a low-density super-Earth that orbits a nearby Sun-like star in under 18 hr. The inferred bulk density of the planet implies a substantial envelope, which, according to mass–radius relationships, could be either a low-mass extended or a high-mass compact atmosphere. Our observations investigate the latter scenario, with water as the dominant species. We take advantage of the Doppler cross-correlation technique, high-spectral resolution, and the large wavelength coverage of our observations to search for the signature of thousands of optical water absorption lines. Using our observations with HDS on the Subaru telescope and ESPaDOnS on the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope, we are able to place a 3σ lower limit of 10 g mol−1 on the mean-molecular weight of 55Cnc e's water-rich (volume mixing ratio >10%), optically thin atmosphere, which corresponds to an atmospheric scale-height of ~80 km. Our study marks the first high-spectral resolution search for water in a super-Earth atmosphere, and demonstrates that it is possible to recover known water-vapor absorption signals in a nearby super-Earth atmosphere, using high-resolution transit spectroscopy with current ground-based instruments.

## Monday, August 14, 2017

### Habitability Properties of Circumbinary Planets

Habitability Properties of Circumbinary Planets

Author:

Shevchenko

Abstract:
It is shown that several habitability conditions (in fact, at least seven such conditions) appear to be fulfilled automatically by circumbinary planets of main-sequence stars (CBP-MS), whereas on Earth, these conditions are fulfilled only by chance. Therefore, it looks natural that most of the production of replicating biopolymers in the Galaxy is concentrated on particular classes of CBP-MS, and life on Earth is an outlier, in this sense. In this scenario, Lathe's mechanism for the tidal "chain reaction" abiogenesis on Earth is favored as generic for CBP-MS, due to photo-tidal synchronization inherent to them. Problems with this scenario are discussed in detail.

### Frequent Flaring in the TRAPPIST-1 System: Unsuited for Life?

Frequent Flaring in the TRAPPIST-1 System—Unsuited for Life?

Authors:

Vida et al

Abstract:
We analyze the K2 light curve of the TRAPPIST-1 system. The Fourier analysis of the data suggests P rot = 3.295 ± 0.003 days. The light curve shows several flares, of which we analyzed 42 events with integrated flare energies of 1.26 × 1030–1.24 × 1033 erg. Approximately 12% of the flares were complex, multi-peaked eruptions. The flaring and the possible rotational modulation shows no obvious correlation. The flaring activity of TRAPPIST-1 probably continuously alters the atmospheres of the orbiting exoplanets, which makes these less favorable for hosting life.

### Cosmic Rays near Proxima Centauri b

Cosmic Rays near Proxima Centauri b

Authors:

Struminsky et al

Abstract:

Cosmic rays are an important factor of space weather determining radiation conditions near the Earth and it seems to be essential to clarify radiation conditions near extrasolar planets too. Last year a terrestrial planet candidate was discovered in an orbit around Proxima Centauri. Here we present our estimates on parameters of stellar wind of the Parker model, possible fluxes and fluencies of galactic and stellar cosmic rays based on the available data of the Proxima Centauri activity and its magnetic field. We found that galactic cosmic rays will be practically absent near Proxima~b up to energies of 1~TeV due to the modulation by the stellar wind. Stellar cosmic rays may be accelerated in Proxima Centauri events, which are able to permanently maintain density of stellar cosmic rays in the astrosphere comparable to low energy cosmic ray density in the heliosphere. Maximal proton intensities in extreme Proxima events should be by 3--4 orders more than in solar events.

## Sunday, August 13, 2017

### Hints for Small Disks around Very Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs

Hints for Small Disks around Very Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs

Authors:

Hendler et al

Abstract:

The properties of disks around brown dwarfs and very low mass stars (hereafter VLMOs) provide important boundary conditions on the process of planet formation and inform us about the numbers and masses of planets than can form in this regime. We use the Herschel Space Observatory PACS spectrometer to measure the continuum and [O i] 63 μm line emission toward 11 VLMOs with known disks in the Taurus and Chamaeleon I star-forming regions. We fit radiative transfer models to the spectral energy distributions of these sources. Additionally, we carry out a grid of radiative transfer models run in a regime that connects the luminosity of our sources with brighter T Tauri stars. We find that VLMO disks with sizes 1.3–78 au, smaller than typical T Tauri disks, fit well the spectral energy distributions assuming that disk geometry and dust properties are stellar mass independent. Reducing the disk size increases the disk temperature, and we show that VLMOs do not follow previously derived disk temperature–stellar luminosity relationships if the disk outer radius scales with stellar mass. Only 2 out of 11 sources are detected in [O i] despite a better sensitivity than was achieved for T Tauri stars, suggesting that VLMO disks are underluminous. Using thermochemical models, we show that smaller disks can lead to the unexpected [O i] 63 μm nondetections in our sample. The disk outer radius is an important factor in determining the gas and dust observables. Hence, spatially resolved observations with ALMA—to establish if and how disk radii scale with stellar mass—should be pursued further.

### Vertical Distribution and Kinematics of Protoplanetary Nebulae in the Galaxy

Vertical Distribution and Kinematics of Protoplanetary Nebulae in the Galaxy

Authors:

Bobylev et al

Abstract:

The catalogue of protoplanetary nebulae by Vickers et al. has been supplemented with the line-of-sight velocities and proper motions of their central stars from the literature. Based on an exponential density distribution, we have estimated the vertical scale height from objects with an age less than 3 Gyr belonging to the Galactic thin disk (luminosities higher than 5000 Lo) to be h=146+/-15 pc, while from a sample of older objects (luminosities lower than 5000 Lo) it is h=568+/-42 pc. We have produced a list of 147 nebulae in which there are only the line-of-sight velocities for 55 nebulae, only the proper motions for 25 nebulae, and both line-of-sight velocities and proper motions for 67 nebulae. Based on this kinematic sample, we have estimated the Galactic rotation parameters and the residual velocity dispersions of protoplanetary nebulae as a function of their age. We have established that there is a good correlation between the kinematic properties of nebulae and their separation in luminosity proposed by Vickers. Most of the nebulae are shown to be involved in the Galactic rotation, with the circular rotation velocity at the solar distance being V_0=227+/-23 km/s. The following principal semiaxes of the residual velocity dispersion ellipsoid have been found: (sigma1, sigma2, sigma3) = (47, 41, 29) km/s from a sample of young protoplanetary nebulae (with luminosities higher than 5000 Lo), (sigma1, sigma2, sigma3) = (50, 38, 28) km/s from a sample of older protoplanetary nebulae (with luminosities of 4000 Lo or 3500 Lo), and (sigma1, sigma_2, sigma3) = (91, 49, 36) km/s from a sample of halo nebulae (with luminosities of 1700 Lo).

### An Analytical Model for the Evolution of the Protoplanetary Disks

An Analytical Model for the Evolution of the Protoplanetary Disks

Authors:

Khajenabi et al

Abstract:
We obtain a new set of analytical solutions for the evolution of a self-gravitating accretion disk by holding the Toomre parameter close to its threshold and obtaining the stress parameter from the cooling rate. In agreement with the previous numerical solutions, furthermore, the accretion rate is assumed to be independent of the disk radius. Extreme situations where the entire disk is either optically thick or optically thin are studied independently, and the obtained solutions can be used for exploring the early or the final phases of a protoplanetary disk evolution. Our solutions exhibit decay of the accretion rate as a power-law function of the age of the system, with exponents −0.75 and −1.04 for optically thick and thin cases, respectively. Our calculations permit us to explore the evolution of the snow line analytically. The location of the snow line in the optically thick regime evolves as a power-law function of time with the exponent −0.16; however, when the disk is optically thin, the location of the snow line as a function of time with the exponent −0.7 has a stronger dependence on time. This means that in an optically thin disk inward migration of the snow line is faster than an optically thick disk.

## Saturday, August 12, 2017

### A Complete ALMA Map of the Fomalhaut Debris Disk

A Complete ALMA Map of the Fomalhaut Debris Disk

Authors:

MacGregor et al

Abstract:

We present ALMA mosaic observations at 1.3 mm (223 GHz) of the Fomalhaut system with a sensitivity of 14 μJy/beam. These observations provide the first millimeter map of the continuum dust emission from the complete outer debris disk with uniform sensitivity, enabling the first conclusive detection of apocenter glow. We adopt a MCMC modeling approach that accounts for the eccentric orbital parameters of a collection of particles within the disk. The outer belt is radially confined with an inner edge of 136.3±0.9 AU and width of 13.5±1.8 AU. We determine a best-fit eccentricity of 0.12±0.01. Assuming a size distribution power law index of q=3.46±0.09, we constrain the dust absorptivity power law index β to be 0.9<β<1.5. The geometry of the disk is robustly constrained with inclination 65.6±0.3, position angle 337.9±0.3, and argument of periastron 22.5±4.3. Our observations do not confirm any of the azimuthal features found in previous imaging studies of the disk with HST, SCUBA, and ALMA. However, we cannot rule out structures 10AU in size or which only affect smaller grains. The central star is clearly detected with a flux density of 0.75±0.02 mJy, significantly lower than predicted by current photospheric models. We discuss the implications of these observations for the directly imaged Fomalhaut b and the inner dust belt detected at infrared wavelengths.

### Detection of exocometary CO within the 440 Myr-old Fomalhaut belt: a similar CO+CO2 ice abundance in exocomets and Solar System comets

Detection of exocometary CO within the 440 Myr-old Fomalhaut belt: a similar CO+CO2 ice abundance in exocomets and Solar System comets

Authors:

Matrà et al

Abstract:
Recent ALMA observations present mounting evidence for the presence of exocometary gas released within Kuiper belt analogues around nearby main sequence stars. This represents a unique opportunity to study their ice reservoir at the younger ages when volatile delivery to planets is most likely to occur. We here present the detection of CO J=2-1 emission co-located with dust emission from the cometary belt in the 440 Myr-old Fomalhaut system. Through spectro-spatial filtering, we achieve a 5.4σ detection and determine that the ring's sky-projected rotation axis matches that of the star. The CO mass derived (0.65−42×10−7 M⊕) is the lowest of any circumstellar disk detected to date, and must be of exocometary origin. Using a steady state model, we estimate the CO+CO2 mass fraction of exocomets around Fomalhaut to be between 4.6-76%, consistent with Solar System comets and the two other belts known to host exocometary gas. This is the first indication of a similarity in cometary compositions across planetary systems that may be linked to their formation scenario and is consistent with direct ISM inheritance. In addition, we find tentative evidence that (49±27)% of the detected flux originates from a region near the eccentric belt's pericentre. If confirmed, the latter may be explained through a recent impact event or CO pericentre glow due to exocometary release within a steady state collisional cascade. In the latter scenario, we show how the azimuthal dependence of the CO release rate leads to asymmetries in gas observations of eccentric exocometary belts.

### Different dust and gas radial extents in protoplanetary disks: consistent models of grain growth and CO emission

Different dust and gas radial extents in protoplanetary disks: consistent models of grain growth and CO emission
Authors:

Facchini et al

Abstract:
ALMA observations of protoplanetary disks confirm earlier indications that there is a clear difference between the dust and gas radial extents. The origin of this difference is still debated, with both radial drift of the dust and optical depth effects suggested in the literature. In this work, the feedback of realistic dust particle distributions onto the gas chemistry and molecular emissivity is investigated, with a particular focus on CO isotopologues. The radial dust grain size distribution is determined using dust evolution models that include growth, fragmentation and radial drift. A new version of the code DALI is used to take into account how dust surface area and density influence the disk thermal structure, molecular abundances and excitation. The difference of dust and gas radial sizes is largely due to differences in the optical depth of CO lines and millimeter continuum, without the need to invoke radial drift. The effect of radial drift is primarily visible in the sharp outer edge of the continuum intensity profile. The gas outer radius probed by 12CO emission can easily differ by a factor of ∼2 between the models for a turbulent α ranging between typical values. Grain growth and settling concur in thermally decoupling the gas and dust components, due to the low collision rate with large grains. As a result, the gas can be much colder than the dust at intermediate heights, reducing the CO excitation and emission, especially for low turbulence values. Also, due to disk mid-plane shadowing, a second CO thermal desorption (rather than photodesorption) front can occur in the warmer outer mid-plane disk. The models are compared to ALMA observations of HD 163296 as a test case. In order to reproduce the observed CO snowline of the system, a binding energy for CO typical of ice mixtures needs to be used rather than the lower pure CO value.

## Friday, August 11, 2017

### OGLE-2014-BLG-1112LB: A new Brown Dwarf Detected Through Microlensing

OGLE-2014-BLG-1112LB: A Microlensing Brown Dwarf Detected Through the Channel of a Gravitational Binary-Lens Event
Authors:
Han et al
Abstract:
Due to the nature depending on only the gravitational field, microlensing, in principle, provides an important tool to detect faint and even dark brown dwarfs. However, the number of identified brown dwarfs is limited due to the difficulty of the lens mass measurement that is needed to check the substellar nature of the lensing object. In this work, we report a microlensing brown dwarf discovered from the analysis of the gravitational binary-lens event OGLE-2014-BLG-1112. We identify the brown-dwarf nature of the lens companion by measuring the lens mass from the detections of both microlens-parallax and finite-source effects. We find that the companion has a mass of (3.03±0.78)×10−2 M⊙ and it is orbiting a solar-type primary star with a mass of 1.07±0.28 M⊙. The estimated projected separation between the lens components is 9.63±1.33 au and the distance to the lens is 4.84±0.67 kpc. We discuss the usefulness of space-based microlensing observations in detecting brown dwarfs through the channel of binary-lens events.

### Photopolarimetric characteristics of brown dwarfs bearing uniform cloud decks

Photopolarimetric characteristics of brown dwarfs bearing uniform cloud decks
Authors:
Sanghavi et al
Abstract:

It has long been known that an envelope of scattering particles like free electrons, atoms and molecules, or particulate aggregates like haze or cloud grains affect the intensity and polarization of radiation emitted by a rotating body (Chandrasekhar 1946; Harrington and Collins 1968, Sengupta and Marley 2010, Marley and Sengupta 2011, de Kok et al. 2011). Due to their high rotation rates, brown dwarfs (BDs) are expected to be considerably oblate. We present a conics-based radiative transfer scheme for computing the disc-resolved and disc-integrated polarized emission of an oblate body. Using this capability, we examine the photopolarimetric signal of BDs as a function of the scattering properties of its atmosphere like cloud optical thickness and cloud grain size as well as properties specific to the BD such as its oblateness and the orientation of its rotation axis relative to the observer. The polarizing effect of temperature inhomogeneity caused by gravity-darkening is considered distinctly from the effect of oblateness, revealing that resulting temperature gradients cause intensity differences that can amplify the disc-integrated polarization by a factor of 2. Our examination of the properties of scatterers suggests that the contested relative brightening in the J-band for cooler BDs in the L/T-transition can partly be explained by thick clouds bearing larger-sized grains. Grain-size affects both the intensity and polarization of emitted radiation - as grain-size increases relative to wavelength, the polarization caused by scattering decreases sharply, especially at infrared wavelengths where Rayleigh scattering due to atoms and molecules becomes negligible. We thus claim that the presence of scattering particles is a necessary but not sufficient condition for observing polarization of emitted light.