A consistent retrieval analysis of 10 Hot Jupiters observed in transmission

A consistent retrieval analysis of 10 Hot Jupiters observed in transmission

Authors:

Barstow et al

Abstract:

We present a consistent optimal estimation retrieval analysis of ten hot Jupiter exoplanets, each with transmission spectral data spanning the visible to near-infrared wavelength range. Using the NEMESIS radiative transfer and retrieval tool, we calculate a range of possible atmospheric states for WASP-6b, WASP-12b, WASP-17b, WASP-19b, WASP-31b, WASP-39b, HD 189733b, HD 209458b, HAT-P-1b and HAT-P-12b. We find that the spectra of all ten planets are consistent with the presence of some atmospheric aerosol; WASP-6b, WASP-12b, WASP-17b, WASP-19b, HD 189733b and HAT-P-12b are all fit best by Rayleigh scattering aerosols, whereas WASP-31b, WASP-39b and HD 209458b are better represented by a grey cloud model. HAT-P-1b has solutions that fall into both categories. WASP-6b, HAT-P-12b, HD 189733b and WASP-12b must have aerosol extending to low atmospheric pressures (below 0.1 mbar). In general, planets with equilibrium temperatures between 1300 and 1700 K are best represented by deeper, grey cloud layers, whereas cooler or hotter planets are better fit using high Rayleigh scattering aerosol. We find little evidence for the presence of molecular absorbers other than H2O. Retrieval methods can provide a consistent picture across a range of hot Jupiter atmospheres with existing data, and will be a powerful tool for the interpretation of James Webb Space Telescope observations.

Hot Jupiter HAT-P-1b has a Partially Transparent Atmosphere

Further constraints on the optical transmission spectrum of HAT-P-1b

Authors:

Montalto et al

Abstract:

We report on novel observations of HAT-P-1 aimed at constraining the optical transmission spectrum of the atmosphere of its transiting Hot-Jupiter exoplanet. Ground-based differential spectrophotometry was performed over two transit windows using the DOLORES spectrograph at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG). Our measurements imply an average planet to star radius ratio equal to Rp/R⋆=(0.1159±0.0005). This result is consistent with the value obtained from recent near infrared measurements of this object but differs from previously reported optical measurements being lower by around 4.4 exoplanet scale heights. Analyzing the data over 5 different spectral bins 600\AA wide we observed a single peaked spectrum (3.7 σ level) with a blue cut-off corresponding to the blue edge of the broad absorption wing of sodium and an increased absorption in the region in between 6180-7400\AA. We also infer that the width of the broad absorption wings due to alkali metals is likely narrower than the one implied by solar abundance clear atmospheric models. We interpret the result as evidence that HAT-P-1b has a partially clear atmosphere at optical wavelengths with a more modest contribution from an optical absorber than previously reported.

Upper Limits on the Carbon-to-Oxygen Ratios of Eight Hot Jupiters' Atmospheres

Strict Upper Limits on the Carbon-to-Oxygen Ratios of Eight Hot Jupiters from Self-Consistent Atmospheric Retrieval

Author:

Benneke

Abstract:

The elemental compositions of hot Jupiters are informative relics of planet formation that can help us answer long-standing questions regarding the origin and formation of giant planets. Here, I present the main conclusions from a comprehensive atmospheric retrieval survey of eight hot Jupiters with detectable molecular absorption in their near-infrared transmission spectra. I analyze the eight transmission spectra using the newly-developed, self-consistent atmospheric retrieval framework, SCARLET. Unlike previous methods, SCARLET combines the physical and chemical consistency of complex atmospheric models with the statistical treatment of observational uncertainties known from atmospheric retrieval techniques. I find that all eight hot Jupiters consistently require carbon-to-oxygen ratios (C/O) below 0.9. The finding of C/O less than 0.9 is highly robust for HD209458b, WASP-12b, WASP-19b, HAT-P-1b, and XO-1b. For HD189733b, WASP-17b, and WASP-43b, I find that the published WFC3 transmission spectra favor C/O less than 0.9 at greater than 95% confidence. I further show that the water abundances on all eight hot Jupiters are consistent with solar composition. The relatively small depth of the detected water absorption features is due to the presence of clouds, not due to a low water abundance as previously suggested for HD209458b. The presence of a thick cloud deck is inferred for HD209458b and WASP-12b. HD189733b may host a similar cloud deck, rather than the previously suggested Rayleigh hazes, if star spots affect the observed spectrum. The approach taken in SCARLET can be regarded as a new pathway to interpreting spectral observations of planetary atmospheres. In this work, including our prior knowledge of H-C-N-O chemistry enables me to constrain the C/O ratio without detecting a single carbon-bearing molecule.

Potassium Detected in hot Jupiter HAT-P-1b's Atmosphere

GTC OSIRIS transiting exoplanet atmospheric survey: detection of potassium in HAT-P-1b from narrowband spectrophotometry

Authors:

Wilson et al

Abstract:

We present the detection of potassium in the atmosphere of HAT-P-1b using optical transit narrowband photometry. The results are obtained using the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) together with the OSIRIS instrument in tunable filter imaging mode. We observed four transits, two at continuum wavelengths outside the potassium feature, at 6792 {\AA} and 8844 {\AA}, and two probing the potassium feature in the line wing at 7582.0 {\AA} and the line core at 7664.9 {\AA} using a 12 {\AA} filter width (R~650). The planet-to-star radius ratios in the continuum are found to be Rpl/R⋆ = 0.1176 ± 0.0013 at 6792 {\AA} and Rpl/R⋆ = 0.1168 ± 0.0022 at 8844 {\AA}, significantly lower than the two observations in the potassium line: Rpl/R⋆ = 0.1248 ± 0.0014 in the line wing at 7582.0 {\AA} and Rpl/R⋆ = 0.1268 ± 0.0012 in the line core at 7664.9 {\AA}. With a weighted mean of the observations outside the potassium feature Rpl/R⋆ = 0.1174 ± 0.0010, the potassium is detected as an increase in the radius ratio of {\Delta}Rpl/R⋆ = 0.0073 ± 0.0017 at 7582.0 {\AA} and {\Delta}Rpl/R⋆ = 0.0094 ± 0.0016 at 7664.9 {\AA} (a significance of 4.3 and 6.1 σ respectively). We hypothesise that the strong detection of potassium is caused by a large scale height, which can be explained by a high-temperature at the base of the upper atmosphere. A lower mean molecular mass caused by the dissociation of molecular hydrogen into atomic hydrogen by the EUV flux from the host star may also partly explain the amplitude of our detection.

HAT-P-1b: A Case Study for the Constraint of Terrestrial Worlds in Hot Jupiter Systems

A high precision chemical abundance analysis of the HAT-P-1 stellar binary: constraints on planet formation

Authors:

Liu et al

Abstract:

We present a high-precision, differential elemental abundance analysis of the HAT-P-1 stellar binary based on high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio Keck/HIRES spectra. The secondary star in this double system is known to host a transiting giant planet while no planets have yet been detected around the primary star. The derived metallicities ([Fe/H]) of the primary and secondary stars are identical within the errors: 0.146±0.014 dex (σ = 0.033 dex) and 0.155±0.007 dex (σ = 0.023 dex), respectively. Extremely precise differential abundance ratios of 23 elements have been measured (mean error of σ([X/Fe]) = 0.013 dex) and are found to be indistinguishable between the two stars: Δ[X/Fe] (secondary - primary) = +0.001±0.006 dex (σ = 0.008 dex). The striking similarity in the chemical composition of the two stellar components in HAT-P-1 is contrary to the possible 0.04 dex level difference seen in 16 Cyg A+B, which also hosts a giant planet, at least 3 times more massive than the one around HAT-P-1 secondary star. We conclude that the presence of giant planets does not necessarily imply differences in the chemical compositions of the host stars. The elemental abundances of each star in HAT-P-1 relative to the Sun show an identical, positive correlation with the condensation temperature of the elements; their abundance patterns are thus very similar to those observed in the majority of solar twins. In view of the Melendez et al. (2009)'s interpretation of the peculiar solar abundance pattern, we conclude that HAT-P-1 experienced less efficient formation of terrestrial planets than the Sun. This is in line with the expectation that the presence of close-in giant planets preventing the formation or survival of terrestrial planets.