| 1. |
- Luque, R., et al.
(author)
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A resonant sextuplet of sub-Neptunes transiting the bright star HD 110067
- 2023
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In: Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 623:7989, s. 932-937
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Planets with radii between that of the Earth and Neptune (hereafter referred to as ‘sub-Neptunes’) are found in close-in orbits around more than half of all Sun-like stars 1,2. However, their composition, formation and evolution remain poorly understood 3. The study of multiplanetary systems offers an opportunity to investigate the outcomes of planet formation and evolution while controlling for initial conditions and environment. Those in resonance (with their orbital periods related by a ratio of small integers) are particularly valuable because they imply a system architecture practically unchanged since its birth. Here we present the observations of six transiting planets around the bright nearby star HD 110067. We find that the planets follow a chain of resonant orbits. A dynamical study of the innermost planet triplet allowed the prediction and later confirmation of the orbits of the rest of the planets in the system. The six planets are found to be sub-Neptunes with radii ranging from 1.94R ⊕ to 2.85R ⊕. Three of the planets have measured masses, yielding low bulk densities that suggest the presence of large hydrogen-dominated atmospheres.
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| 2. |
- Mallorquin, M., et al.
(author)
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TOI-1801 b: A temperate mini-Neptune around a young M0.5 dwarf
- 2023
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 680
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the discovery, mass, and radius determination of TOI-1801 b, a temperate mini-Neptune around a young M dwarf. TOI-1801 b was observed in TESS sectors 22 and 49, and the alert that this was a TESS planet candidate with a period of 21.3 days went out in April 2020. However, ground-based follow-up observations, including seeing-limited photometry in and outside transit together with precise radial velocity (RV) measurements with CARMENES and HIRES revealed that the true period of the planet is 10.6 days. These observations also allowed us to retrieve a mass of 5.74 +/- 1.46 M-circle plus, which together with a radius of 2.08 +/- 0.12 R-circle plus, means that TOI-1801 b is most probably composed of water and rock, with an upper limit of 2% by mass of H-2 in its atmosphere. The stellar rotation period of 16 days is readily detectable in our RV time series and in the ground-based photometry. We derived a likely age of 600-800 Myr for the parent star TOI-1801, which means that TOI-1801 b is the least massive young mini-Neptune with precise mass and radius determinations. Our results suggest that if TOI-1801 b had a larger atmosphere in the past, it must have been removed by some evolutionary mechanism on timescales shorter than 1 Gyr.
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| 3. |
- Murgas, F., et al.
(author)
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Two super-Earths at the edge of the habitable zone of the nearby M dwarf TOI-2095
- 2023
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 677
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The main scientific goal of TESS is to find planets smaller than Neptune around stars that are bright enough to allow for further characterization studies. Given our current instrumentation and detection biases, M dwarfs are prime targets in the search for small planets that are in (or near) the habitable zone of their host star. In this work, we use photometric observations and CARMENES radial velocity (RV) measurements to validate a pair of transiting planet candidates found by TESS. The data were fitted simultaneously, using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) procedure and taking into account the stellar variability present in the photometric and spectroscopic time series. We confirm the planetary origin of the two transiting candidates orbiting around TOI-2095 (LSPM J1902+7525). The star is a nearby M dwarf (d = 41.90 ± 0.03 pc, Teff = 3759 ± 87 K, V = 12.6 mag), with a stellar mass and radius of M∗ = 0.44 ± 0.02 M· and R∗ = 0.44 ± 0.02 R·, respectively. The planetary system is composed of two transiting planets: TOI-2095b, with an orbital period of Pb = 17.66484 ± (7 A - 10- 5) days, and TOI-2095c, with Pc = 28.17232 ± (14 A - 10- 5) days. Both planets have similar sizes with Rb = 1.25 ± 0.07 R· and Rc = 1.33 ± 0.08 R· for planet b and planet c, respectively. Although we did not detect the induced RV variations of any planet with significance, our CARMENES data allow us to set stringent upper limits on the masses of these objects. We find Mb < 4.1 M· for the inner and Mc < 7.4 M· for the outer planet (95% confidence level). These two planets present equilibrium temperatures in the range of 300 350 K and are close to the inner edge of the habitable zone of their star.
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| 4. |
- Murgas, F., et al.
(author)
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TOI-674b: An oasis in the desert of exo-Neptunes transiting a nearby M dwarf
- 2021
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 653
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. The NASA mission TESS is currently doing an all-sky survey from space to detect transiting planets around bright stars. As part of the validation process, the most promising planet candidates need to be confirmed and characterized using follow-up observations. Aims. In this article, our aim is to confirm the planetary nature of the transiting planet candidate TOI-674b using spectroscopic and photometric observations. Methods. We use TESS, Spitzer, ground-based light curves, and HARPS spectrograph radial velocity measurements to establish the physical properties of the transiting exoplanet candidate TOI-674b. We perform a joint fit of the light curves and radial velocity time series to measure the mass, radius, and orbital parameters of the candidate. Results. We confirm and characterize TOI-674b, a low-density super-Neptune transiting a nearby M dwarf. The host star (TIC 158588995, V = 14.2 mag, J = 10.3 mag) is characterized by its M2V spectral type with M = 0.420 ± 0.010 M , R = 0.420 ± 0.013 R , and Teff = 3514 ± 57 K; it is located at a distance d = 46.16 ± 0.03 pc. Combining the available transit light curves plus radial velocity measurements and jointly fitting a circular orbit model, we find an orbital period of 1.977143 ± 3 × 10-6 days, a planetary radius of 5.25 ± 0.17 R , and a mass of 23.6 ± 3.3 M implying a mean density of ρp =0.91 ± 0.15 g cm-3. A non-circular orbit model fit delivers similar planetary mass and radius values within the uncertainties. Given the measured planetary radius and mass, TOI-674b is one of the largest and most massive super-Neptune class planets discovered around an M-type star to date. It is found in the Neptunian desert, and is a promising candidate for atmospheric characterization using the James Webb Space Telescope.
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| 5. |
- Fukui, A., et al.
(author)
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TOI-1749: an M dwarf with a Trio of Planets including a Near-resonant Pair
- 2021
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In: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-3881 .- 0004-6256. ; 162:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the discovery of one super-Earth- (TOI-1749b) and two sub-Neptune-sized planets (TOI-1749c and TOI-1749d) transiting an early M dwarf at a distance of 100 pc, which were first identified as planetary candidates using data from the TESS photometric survey. We have followed up this system from the ground by means of multiband transit photometry, adaptive optics imaging, and low-resolution spectroscopy, from which we have validated the planetary nature of the candidates. We find that TOI-1749b, c, and d have orbital periods of 2.39, 4.49, and 9.05 days, and radii of 1.4, 2.1, and 2.5 R (circle plus), respectively. We also place 95% confidence upper limits on the masses of 57, 14, and 15 M (circle plus) for TOI-1749b, c, and d, respectively, from transit timing variations. The periods, sizes, and tentative masses of these planets are in line with a scenario in which all three planets initially had a hydrogen envelope on top of a rocky core, and only the envelope of the innermost planet has been stripped away by photoevaporation and/or core-powered mass-loss mechanisms. These planets are similar to other planetary trios found around M dwarfs, such as TOI-175b,c,d and TOI-270b,c,d, in the sense that the outer pair has a period ratio within 1% of 2. Such a characteristic orbital configuration, in which an additional planet is located interior to a near 2:1 period-ratio pair, is relatively rare around FGK dwarfs.
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| 6. |
- Knudstrup, E., et al.
(author)
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Radial velocity confirmation of a hot super-Neptune discovered by TESS with a warm Saturn-mass companion
- 2023
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In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 519:4, s. 5637-5655
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the discovery and confirmation of the planetary system TOI-1288. This late G dwarf harbours two planets: TOI-1288 b and TOI-1288 c. We combine TESS space-borne and ground-based transit photometry with HARPS-N and HIRES high-precision Doppler measurements, which we use to constrain the masses of both planets in the system and the radius of planet b. TOI-1288 b has a period of 2.699835(-0.000003)(+0.000004) d, a radius of 5.24 +/- 0.09 R-circle plus, and a mass of 42 +/- 3 M-circle plus, making this planet a hot transiting super-Neptune situated right in the Neptunian desert. This desert refers to a paucity of Neptune-sized planets on short period orbits. Our 2.4-yr-long Doppler monitoring of TOI-1288 revealed the presence of a Saturn-mass planet on a moderately eccentric orbit (0.13(-0.09)(+0.07)) with a minimum mass of 84 +/- 7 M-circle plus and a period of 443(-13)(+11) d. The five sectors worth of TESS data do not cover our expected mid-transit time for TOI-1288 c, and we do not detect a transit for this planet in these sectors.
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| 7. |
- Deeg, H., et al.
(author)
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TOI-1416: A system with a super-Earth planet with a 1.07 d period
- 2023
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 677
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- TOI-1416 (BD+42 2504, HIP 70705) is a V =10 late G- or early K-type dwarf star. TESS detected transits in its Sectors 16, 23, and 50 with a depth of about 455 ppm and a period of 1.07 days. Radial velocities (RVs) confirm the presence of the transiting planet TOI-1416 b, which has a mass of 3.48 ± 0.47 M• and a radius of 1.62 ± 0.08 R•, implying a slightly sub-Earth density of 4.500.83+0.99 g cm3. The RV data also further indicate a tentative planet, c, with a period of 27.4 or 29.5 days, whose nature cannot be verified due to strong suspicions of contamination by a signal related to the Moon s synodic period of 29.53 days. The nearly ultra-short-period planet TOI-1416 b is a typical representative of a short-period and hot (Teq ≈ 1570 K) super-Earth-like planet. A planet model of an interior of molten magma containing a significant fraction of dissolved water provides a plausible explanation for its composition, and its atmosphere could be suitable for transmission spectroscopy with JWST. The position of TOI-1416 b within the radius-period distribution corroborates the idea that planets with periods of less than one day do not form any special group. It instead implies that ultra-short-period planets belong to a continuous distribution of super-Earth-like planets with periods ranging from the shortest known ones up to ≈ 30 days; their period-radius distribution is delimited against larger radii by the Neptune Desert and by the period-radius valley that separates super-Earths from sub-Neptune planets. In the abundance of small, short-periodic planets, a notable plateau has emerged between periods of 0.6- 1.4 days, which is compatible with the low-eccentricity formation channel. For the Neptune Desert, its lower limits required a revision due to the increasing population of short-period planets; for periods shorter then 2 days, we establish a radius of 1.6 R• and a mass of 0.028 Mjup (corresponding to 8.9 M•) as the desert s lower limits. We also provide corresponding limits to the Neptune Desert against the planets insolation and effective temperatures.
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| 8. |
- Hori, Yasunori, et al.
(author)
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The Discovery and Follow-up of Four Transiting Short-period Sub-Neptunes Orbiting M Dwarfs
- 2024
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In: Astronomical Journal. - 1538-3881 .- 0004-6256. ; 167:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sub-Neptunes with radii of 2-3 R ⊕ are intermediate in size between rocky planets and Neptune-sized planets. The orbital properties and bulk compositions of transiting sub-Neptunes provide clues to the formation and evolution of close-in small planets. In this paper, we present the discovery and follow-up of four sub-Neptunes orbiting M dwarfs (TOI-782, TOI-1448, TOI-2120, and TOI-2406), three of which were newly validated by ground-based follow-up observations and statistical analyses. TOI-782 b, TOI-1448 b, TOI-2120 b, and TOI-2406 b have radii of R p = 2.740 − 0.079 + 0.082 R ⊕ , 2.769 − 0.068 + 0.073 R ⊕ , 2.120 ± 0.067 R ⊕, and 2.830 − 0.066 + 0.068 R ⊕ and orbital periods of P = 8.02, 8.11, 5.80, and 3.08 days, respectively. Doppler monitoring with the Subaru/InfraRed Doppler instrument led to 2σ upper limits on the masses of <19.1 M ⊕, <19.5 M ⊕, <6.8 M ⊕, and <15.6 M ⊕ for TOI-782 b, TOI-1448 b, TOI-2120 b, and TOI-2406 b, respectively. The mass-radius relationship of these four sub-Neptunes testifies to the existence of volatile material in their interiors. These four sub-Neptunes, which are located above the so-called “radius valley,” are likely to retain a significant atmosphere and/or an icy mantle on the core, such as a water world. We find that at least three of the four sub-Neptunes (TOI-782 b, TOI-2120 b, and TOI-2406 b), orbiting M dwarfs older than 1 Gyr, are likely to have eccentricities of e ∼ 0.2-0.3. The fact that tidal circularization of their orbits is not achieved over 1 Gyr suggests inefficient tidal dissipation in their interiors.
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| 9. |
- Goffo, E., et al.
(author)
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TOI-4438 b: a transiting mini-Neptune amenable to atmospheric characterization
- 2024
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 685
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the confirmation and mass determination of a mini-Neptune transiting the M3.5 V star TOI-4438 (G 182-34) every 7.44 days. A transit signal was detected with NASA's TESS space mission in the sectors 40, 52, and 53. In order to validate the planet TOI-4438 b and to determine the system properties, we combined TESS data with high-precision radial velocity measurements from the CARMENES spectrograph, spanning almost one year, and ground-based transit photometry. We found that TOI-4438 b has a radius of Rb = 2.52 ± 0.13 R⊕ (5% precision), which together with a mass of Mb = 5.4 ± 1.1 M⊕ (20% precision), results in a bulk density of ρb = 1.85-0.44+0.51 g cm-3 (~28% precision), aligning the discovery with a volatile-rich planet. Our interior structure retrieval with a pure water envelope yields aminimum water mass fraction of 46% (1σ). TOI-4438 b is a volatile-rich mini-Neptune with likely H/He mixed with molecules, such as water, CO2, and CH4. The primary star has a J-band magnitude of 9.7, and the planet has a high transmission spectroscopy metric (TSM) of 136 ± 13. Taking into account the relatively warm equilibrium temperature of Teq = 435 ± 15 K, and the low activity level of its host star, TOI-4438 b is one of the most promising mini-Neptunes around an M dwarf for transmission spectroscopy studies.
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| 10. |
- Esparza-Borges, E., et al.
(author)
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A hot sub-Neptune in the desert and a temperate super-Earth around faint M dwarfs Color validation of TOI-4479b and TOI-2081b
- 2022
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 666
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims. We report the discovery and validation of two TESS exoplanets orbiting faint M dwarfs: TOI-4479b and TOI-2081b. Methods. We jointly analyzed space (TESS mission) and ground-based (MuSCAT2, MuSCAT3 and SINISTRO instruments) light curves using our multicolor photometry transit analysis pipeline. This allowed us to compute contamination limits for both candidates and validate them as planet-sized companions. Results. We found TOI-4479b to be a sub-Neptune-sized planet (R-p = 2.82(-0.63)(+0.65) R-circle plus) and TOI-2081b to be a super-Earth-sized planet (R-p = 2.04(-0.54)(+0.50) R-circle plus). Furthermore, we obtained that TOI-4479b, with a short orbital period of 1.15890(-0.00001)(+0.00002) days, lies within the Neptune desert and is in fact the largest nearly ultra-short period planet around an M dwarf known to date. Conclusions. These results make TOI-4479b rare among the currently known exoplanet population of M dwarf stars and an especially interesting target for spectroscopic follow-up and future studies of planet formation and evolution.
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