6509948
Probing the Impact of Stellar Duplicity on Planet Occurrence
The presence of a stellar companion closer than ~100 AU is likely to affect planet formation and evolution. Yet, the precise effects and their actual impact on planet occurrence are still debated. To bring observational constraints, we have conducted with VLT/NACO a systematic adaptive optics survey for close stellar companions to 130 solar-type stars with and without planets. In this paper we present observational and preliminary statistical results from this survey. Observational results reveal about 20 true companions, of which 4 are new companions to planet-host stars. As to preliminary statistical results, they suggest that circumstellar giant planets are less frequent in binaries closer than ~100 AU than around single stars, in possible agreement with the theoretical studies that predict a negative impact of stellar duplicity on giant planet formation in binaries closer than ~100 AU. These statistical results will need confirmation, however, as they are severely limited by small sample sizes.
15260611
Spectropolarimetric observations of the transiting planetary system of the K dwarf HD 189733
With a Jupiter-mass planet orbiting at a distance of only 0.031 AU, the active K2 dwarf HD 189733 is a potential candidate in which to study the magnetospheric interactions of a cool star with its recently-discovered close-orbiting giant planet. We decided to explore the strength and topology of the large-scale magnetosphere of HD 189733, as a future benchmark for quantitative studies for models of the star/planet magnetic interactions. To this end, we used ESPaDOnS, the new generation spectropolarimeter at the Canada-France-Hawaii 3.6m telescope, to look for Zeeman circular polarisation signatures in the line profiles of HD 189733 in 2006 June and August. Zeeman signatures in the line profiles of HD 189733 are clearly detected in all spectra, demonstrating that a field is indeed present at the surface of the star. The Zeeman signatures are not modulated with the planet's orbital period but apparently vary with the stellar rotation cycle. The reconstructed large-scale magnetic field, whose strength reaches a few tens of G, is significantly more complex than that of the Sun; it involves in particular a significant toroidal component and contributions from magnetic multipoles of order up to 5. The CaII H & K lines clearly feature core emission, whose intensity is apparently varying mostly with rotation phase. Our data suggest that the photosphere and magnetic field of HD 189733 are sheared by a significant amount of differential rotation. Our initial study confirms that HD 189733 is an optimal target for investigating activity enhancements induced by closely orbiting planets. More data are needed, densely covering both the orbital and rotation cycles, to investigate whether and how much the planet contributes to the overall activity level of HD 189733.
7786007
WASP-23b: a transiting hot Jupiter around a K dwarf and its Rossiter-McLaughlin effect
We report the discovery of a new transiting planet in the southern hemisphere. It was found by the WASP-south transit survey and confirmed photometrically and spectroscopically by the 1.2 m Swiss Euler telescope, LCOGT 2m Faulkes South Telescope, the 60 cm TRAPPIST telescope, and the ESO 3.6 m telescope. The orbital period of the planet is 2.94 days. We find that it is a gas giant with a mass of 0.88 ± 0.10 MJ and an estimated radius of 0.96 ± 0.05RJ. We obtained spectra during transit with the HARPS spectrograph and detect the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect despite its small amplitude. Because of the low signal-to-noise ratio of the effect and a small impact parameter, we cannot place a strong constraint on the projected spin-orbit angle. We find two conflicting values for the stellar rotation. We find, via spectral line broadening, that v sin I = 2.2 ± 0. 3k m s −1 , while applying another method, based on the activity level using the index log R � , gives an equatorial rotation velocity of only v = 1.35 ± 0.20 km s −1 . Using these as priors in our analysis, the planet might be either misaligned or aligned. This result raises doubts about the use of such priors. There is evidence of neither eccentricity nor any radial velocity drift with time.
53687206
WASP-64 b and WASP-72 b: two new transiting highly irradiated giant planets
We report the discovery by the WASP transit survey of two new highly irradiated giant planets. WASP-64 b is slightly more massive (1.271 ± 0.068 MJup )a nd larger (1.271 ± 0.039 RJup) than Jupiter, and is in very-short (a = 0.02648 ± 0.00024 AU, P = 1.5732918 ± 0.0000015 days) circular orbit around a V = 12.3 G7-type dwarf (1.004 ± 0.028 M� ,1 .058 ± 0.025 R� , Teff = 5500 ± 150 K). Its size is typical of hot Jupiters with similar masses. WASP-72 b has also a mass a bit higher than Jupiter’s (1.461 +0.059 −0.056 MJup) and orbits very close (0.03708 ± 0.00050 AU, P = 2.2167421 ± 0.0000081 days) to a bright (V = 9.6) and moderately evolved F7-type star (1.386 ± 0.055 M� ,1 .98 ± 0.24 R� , Teff = 6250 ± 100 K). Despite its extreme irradiation (∼5.5 × 10 9 erg s −1 cm −2 ), WASP-72 b has a moderate size (1.27 ± 0.20 RJup) that could suggest a significant enrichment in heavy elements. Nevertheless, the errors on its physical parameters are still too high to draw any strong inference on its internal structure or its possible peculiarity.
197440547
Report by the ESA-ESO Working Group on Extra-Solar Planets
Various techniques are being used to search for extra-solar planetary signatures, including accurate measurement of radial velocity and positional (astrometric) displacements, gravitational microlensing, and photometric transits. Planned space experiments promise a considerable increase in the detections and statistical knowledge arising especially from transit and astrometric measurements over the years 2005-15, with some hundreds of terrestrial-type planets expected from transit measurements, and many thousands of Jupiter-mass planets expected from astrometric measurements. Beyond 2015, very ambitious space (Darwin/TPF) and ground (OWL) experiments are targeting direct detection of nearby Earth-mass planets in the habitable zone and the measurement of their spectral characteristics. Beyond these, `Life Finder' (aiming to produce confirmatory evidence of the presence of life) and `Earth Imager' (some massive interferometric array providing resolved images of a distant Earth) appear as distant visions. This report, to ESA and ESO, summarises the direction of exo-planet research that can be expected over the next 10 years or so, identifies the roles of the major facilities of the two organisations in the field, and concludes with some recommendations which may assist development of the field. The report has been compiled by the Working Group members and experts over the period June-December 2004.
64119308
WASP-29b: A Saturn-sized transiting exoplanet
We report the discovery of a Saturn-sized planet transiting a V = 11.3, K4 dwarf star every 3.9 days. WASP-29b has a mass of 0.24 ± 0.02 M Jup and a radius of 0.79 ± 0.05 R Jup, making it the smallest planet so far discovered by the WASP survey, and the exoplanet most similar in mass and radius to Saturn. The host star WASP-29 has an above-solar metallicity and fits a possible correlation for Saturn-mass planets such that planets with higher-metallicity host stars have higher core masses and thus smaller radii.
6509948
Probing the Impact of Stellar Duplicity on Planet Occurrence
The presence of a stellar companion closer than ~100 AU is likely to affect planet formation and evolution. Yet, the precise effects and their actual impact on planet occurrence are still debated. To bring observational constraints, we have conducted with VLT/NACO a systematic adaptive optics survey for close stellar companions to 130 solar-type stars with and without planets. In this paper we present observational and preliminary statistical results from this survey. Observational results reveal about 20 true companions, of which 4 are new companions to planet-host stars. As to preliminary statistical results, they suggest that circumstellar giant planets are less frequent in binaries closer than ~100 AU than around single stars, in possible agreement with the theoretical studies that predict a negative impact of stellar duplicity on giant planet formation in binaries closer than ~100 AU. These statistical results will need confirmation, however, as they are severely limited by small sample sizes.