One year of AU Mic with HARPS: I - measuring the masses of the two transiting planets
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The system of two transiting Neptune-sized planets around the bright, young M-dwarf AU Mic provides a unique opportunity to test models of planet formation, early evolution, and star-planet interaction. However, the intense magnetic activity of the host star makes measuring the masses of the planets via the radial velocity (RV) method very challenging. We report on a 1-year, intensive monitoring campaign of the system using 91 observations with the HARPS spectrograph, allowing for detailed modelling of the ∼600 m s−1 peak-to-peak activity-induced RV variations. We used a multidimensional Gaussian Process framework to model these and the planetary signals simultaneously. We detect the latter with semi-amplitudes of Kb = 5.8 ± 2.5 m s−1 and Kc = 8.5 ± 2.5 m s−1, respectively. The resulting mass estimates, Mb = 11.7 ± 5.0 M⊕ and Mc = 22.2 ± 6.7 M⊕, suggest that planet b might be less dense, and planet c considerably denser than previously thought. These results are in tension with the current standard models of core-accretion. They suggest that both planets accreted a H/He envelope that is smaller than expected, and the trend between the two planets’ envelope fractions is the opposite of what is predicted by theory.
Date Issued
2022-05-01
Date Acceptance
2022-03-01
Citation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2022, 512 (2), pp.3060-3078
ISSN
0035-8711
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
3060
End Page
3078
Journal / Book Title
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume
512
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Royal Astronomical Society.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Sponsor
The Royal Society
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stac614/6547782
Grant Number
UF150412
853022
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
techniques: radial velocities
techniques: spectroscopic
stars: individual: AU Microscopii
planets and satellites: fundamental parameters
stars: activity
stars: starspots
MAIN-SEQUENCE STAR
ZODIACAL EXOPLANETS
RADIAL-VELOCITY
SUPER-EARTHS
TESS HUNT
ATMOSPHERIC ESCAPE
GIANT IMPACTS
DEBRIS DISK
HOT JUPITER
YOUNG
Astronomy & Astrophysics
0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-03-12