A. Niedzielski

Transit timing variation in exoplanet WASP-3b★

Photometric follow-ups of transiting exoplanets may lead to discoveries of additional, less massive bodies in extrasolar systems. This is possible by detecting and then analysing variations in transit timing of transiting exoplanets. We present photometric observations gathered in 2009 and 2010 for exoplanet WASP-3b during the dedicated transit-timing-variation campaign. The observed transit timing cannot be explained by a constant period but by a periodic variation in the observations minus calculations diagram. Simplified models assuming the existence of a perturbing planet in the system and reproducing the observed variations of timing residuals were identified by three-body simulations. We found that the configuration with the hypothetical second planet of the mass of ∼15 M⊕, located close to the outer 2:1 mean motion resonance is the most likely scenario reproducing observed transit timing. We emphasize, however, that more observations are required to constrain better the parameters of the hypothetical second planet in WASP-3 system. For final interpretation not only transit timing but also photometric observations of the transit of the predicted second planet and the high precision radial-velocity data are needed.

Transit timing variation and activity in the WASP-10 planetary system★

Transit timing analysis may be an effective method of discovering additional bodies in extrasolar systems which harbour transiting exoplanets. The deviations from the Keplerian motion, caused by mutual gravitational interactions between planets, are expected to generate transit timing variations of transiting exoplanets. In 2009 we collected 9 light curves of 8 transits of the exoplanet WASP-10b. Combining these data with published ones, we found that transit timing cannot be explained by a constant period but by a periodic variation. Simplified three-body models which reproduce the observed variations of timing residuals were identified by numerical simulations. We found that the configuration with an additional planet of mass of ∼0.1 MJ and orbital period of ∼5.23 d, located close to the outer 5:3 mean motion resonance, is the most likely scenario. If the second planet is a transiter, the estimated flux drop will be ∼0.3 per cent and can be observable with a ground-based telescope. Moreover, we present evidence that the spots on the stellar surface and rotation of the star affect the radial velocity curve giving rise to spurious eccentricity of the orbit of the first planet. We argue that the orbit of WASP-10b is essentially circular. Using the gyrochronology method, the host star was found to be 270± 80 Myr old. This young age can explain the large radius reported for WASP-10b.

BD+15 2940 and HD 233604: Two Giants with Planets Close to the Engulfment Zone

We report the discovery of planetary-mass companions to two red giants by the ongoing Penn State-Torun Planet Search (PTPS) conducted with the 9.2 m Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The 1.1 M{sub Sun} K0-giant, BD+15 2940, has a 1.1 M{sub J} minimum mass companion orbiting the star at a 137.5 day period in a 0.54 AU orbit what makes it the closest-in planet around a giant and possible subject of engulfment as the consequence of stellar evolution. HD 233604, a 1.5 M{sub Sun} K5-giant, is orbited by a 6.6 M{sub J} minimum mass planet which has a period of 192 days and a semi-major axis of only 0.75 AU making it one of the least distant planets to a giant star. The chemical composition analysis of HD 233604 reveals a relatively high {sup 7}Li abundance which may be a sign of its early evolutionary stage or recent engulfment of another planet in the system. We also present independent detections of planetary-mass companions to HD 209458 and HD 88133, and stellar activity-induced radial velocity variations in HD 166435, as part of the discussion of the observing and data analysis methods used in the PTPS project.

The Dwarf project: Eclipsing binaries – precise clocks to discover exoplanets

We present a new observational campaign, Dwarf, aimed at detection of circumbinary extrasolar planets using the timing of the minima of low-mass eclipsing binaries. The observations will be performed within an extensive network of relatively small to medium-size telescopes with apertures of similar to 20-200 cm. The starting sample of the objects to be monitored contains (i) low-mass eclipsing binaries with M and K components, (ii) short-period binaries with a sdB or sdO component, and (iii) post-common-envelope systems containing a WD, which enable to determine minima with high precision. Since the amplitude of the timing signal increases with the orbital period of an invisible third component, the timescale of the project is long, at least 5-10 years. The paper gives simple formulas to estimate the suitability of individual eclipsing binaries for the circumbinary planet detection. Intrinsic variability of the binaries (photospheric spots, flares, pulsation etc.) limiting the accuracy of the minima timing is also discussed. The manuscript also describes the best observing strategy and methods to detect cyclic timing variability in the minima times indicating the presence of circumbinary planets. First test observations of the selected targets are presented ((c) 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The Penn State − Toruń Centre for Astronomy Planet Search stars - II. Lithium abundance analysis of the red giant clump sample

Using the sample of 348 stars from the PennState-Torun Centre for Astronomy Planet Search, for which uniformly determined atmospheric parameters are available, with chemical abundances and rotational velocities presented here, we investigate various channels of Li enrichment in giants. Our work is based on the HET/HRS spectra. The A(Li) was determined from the 670.8nm line, while we use a more extended set of lines for alpha-elements abundances. In a series of K-S tests, we compare Li-rich giants with other stars in the sample. We also use available IR photometric and kinematical data in search for evidence of mass-loss. We investigate properties of the most Li-abundant giants in more detail by using multi-epoch precise radial velocities. We present Li and alpha-elements abundances, as well as vsini for 348 stars. We detected Li in 92 stars, of which 82 are giants. 11 of them show significant Li abundance A(Li)>1.4 and 7 of them are Li-overabundant objects, according to criterion of A(Li)>1.5 and their location on HR diagram, including two giants with Li abundances close to meteoritic level. For another 271 stars, upper limits of A(Li) are presented. We show that Li-rich giants are among the most massive stars from our sample and show larger than average effective temperatures. They are indistinguishable from the complete sample in terms of their distribution of luminosity, [Fe/H], vsini, and alpha-elements abundances. Our results do not point out to one specific Li enrichment mechanism operating in our sample of giants. On the contrary, in some cases, we cannot identify fingerprints of any of known scenarios. We show, however, that the 4 most Li-rich giant in our sample either have low-mass companions or have RV variations at the level of ~100 m/s, which strongly suggests that the presence of companions is an important factor in the Li-enrichment processes in giants.

The Penn State-Toruń Centre for Astronomy Planet Search stars - I. Spectroscopic analysis of 348 red giants

Aims. We present basic atmospheric parameters (Teff ,l ogg, vt ,a nd [Fe/H]) as well as luminosities, masses, radii, and absolute radial velocities for 348 stars, presumably giants, from the ∼1000 star sample observed within the Penn State-Toru´ n Centre for Astronomy Planet Search with the High Resolution Spectrograph of the 9.2 m Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The stellar parameters (luminosities, masses, radii) are key to properly interpreting newly discovered low-mass companions, while a systematic study of the complete sample will create a basis for future statistical considerations concerning the appearance of low-mass companions around evolved low- and intermediate-mass stars. Methods. The atmospheric parameters were derived using a strictly spectroscopic method based on the LTE analysis of equivalent widths of Fe I and Fe II lines. With existing photometric data and the Hipparcos parallaxes, we estimated stellar masses and ages via evolutionary tracks fitting. The stellar radii were calculated from either estimated masses and the spectroscopic log g or from the spectroscopic Teff and estimated luminosities. The absolute radial velocities were obtained by cross-correlating spectra with a numerical template. Results. We completed the spectroscopic analysis for 332 stars, 327 of which were found to be giants. A simplified analysis was applied to the remaining 16 stars, which had incomplete data. The results show that our sample is composed of stars with effective temperatures ranging from 4055 K to 6239 K, with log g between 1.39 and 4.78 (5 dwarfs were identified). The estimated luminosities

Multi-site campaign for transit timing variations of WASP-12 b: possible detection of a long-period signal of planetary origin

Aims. The transiting planet WASP-12 b was identified as a potential target for transit-timing studies because a departure from a linear ephemeris has been reported in the literature. Such deviations could be caused by an additional planet in the system. We attempt to confirm the claimed variations in transit timing and interpret their origin. Methods. We organised a multi-site campaign to observe transits by WASP-12 b in three observing seasons, using 0.5–2.6-metre telescopes. Results. We obtained 61 transit light curves, many of them with sub-millimagnitude precision. The simultaneous analysis of the best-quality datasets allowed us to obtain refined system parameters, which agree with values reported in previous studies. The residuals versus a linear ephemeris reveal a possible periodic signal that may be approximated by a sinusoid with an amplitude of 0.00068 ± 0.00013 d and period of 500 ± 20 orbital periods of WASP-12 b. The joint analysis of timing data and published radial velocity measurements results in a two-planet model that explains observations better than do single-planet scenarios. We hypothesise that WASP-12 b might not be the only planet in the system, and there might be the additional 0.1 MJup body on a 3.6-d eccentric orbit. A dynamical analysis indicates that the proposed two-planet system is stable on long timescales.

Tracking Advanced Planetary Systems (TAPAS) with HARPS-N - I. A multiple planetary system around the red giant star TYC 1422-614-1

Astronomy and Astrophysics 573 (2015): A36 reproduced with permission from Astronomy & Astrophysics,

CONSTRAINTS ON A SECOND PLANET IN THE WASP-3 SYSTEM*

There have been previous hints that the transiting planet WASP-3b is accompanied by a second planet in a nearby orbit, based on small deviations from strict periodicity of the observed transits. Here we present 17 precise radial velocity (RV) measurements and 32 transit light curves that were acquired between 2009 and 2011. These data were used to refine the parameters of the host star and transiting planet. This has resulted in reduced uncertainties for the radii and masses of the star and planet. The RV data and the transit times show no evidence for an additional planet in the system. Therefore, we have determined the upper limit on the mass of any hypothetical second planet, as a function of its orbital period.

Tracking Advanced Planetary Systems (TAPAS) with HARPS-N - II. Super Li-rich giant HD 107028

Context. Lithium-rich giant stars are rare objects. For some of them, Li enrichment exceeds the abundance of this element found in solar system meteorites, suggesting that these stars have gone through a Li enhancement process. Aims. We identified a Li-rich giant HD 107028 with A(Li) > 3:3 in a sample of evolved stars observed within the PennState Toru´ n Planet Search. In this work we study di erent enhancement scenarios and we try to identify the one responsible for Li enrichment in HD 107028. Methods. We collected high-resolution spectra with three di erent instruments, covering di erent spectral ranges. We determined stellar parameters and abundances of selected elements with both equivalent width measurements and analysis, and spectral synthesis. We also collected multi-epoch high-precision radial velocities in an attempt to detect a companion. Results. Collected data show that HD 107028 is a star at the base of the red giant branch (RGB). Except for high Li abundance, we have not identified any other anomalies in its chemical composition, and there is no indication of a low-mass or stellar companion. We exclude Li production at the luminosity function bump on the RGB as the e ective temperature and luminosity suggest that the evolutionary state is much earlier than the RGB bump. We also cannot confirm the Li enhancement by contamination as we do not observe any anomalies that are associated with this scenario. Conclusions. After evaluating various scenarios of Li enhancement we conclude that the Li-overabundance of HD 107028 originates from main-sequence evolution, and may be caused by di usion processes.