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Abstract:

In the last decade, a dozen close-in giant planets have been discovered orbiting stars with spectral types ranging from M0 to M4, a mystery since known formation pathways do not predict the existence of such systems. Here, we confirm TOI-4860 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting an M4.5 host, a star at the transition between fully and partially convective interiors. First identified with TESS data, we validate the transiting companion’s planetary nature through multicolour photometry from the TRAPPIST-South/North, SPECULOOS, and MuSCAT3 facilities. Our analysis yields a radius of 0.76 ± 0.02 RJup for the planet, a mass of 0.34 M for the star, and an orbital period of 1.52 d. Using the newly commissioned SPIRIT InGaAs camera at the SPECULOOS-South Observatory, we collect infrared photometry in zYJ that spans the time of secondary eclipse. These observations do not detect a secondary eclipse, placing an upper limit on the brightness of the companion. The planetary nature of the companion is further confirmed through high-resolution spectroscopy obtained with the IRD spectrograph at Subaru Telescope, from which we measure a mass of 0.67 ± 0.14 MJup. Based on its overall density, TOI-4860 b appears to be rich in heavy elements, like its host star.

Abstract:

M-dwarfs are the most abundant stars in the galaxy and popular targets for exoplanet searches. However, their intrinsic faintness and complex spectra inhibit precise characterization. We only know of dozens of M-dwarfs with fundamental parameters of mass, radius, and effective temperature characterized to better than a few per cent. Eclipsing binaries remain the most robust means of stellar characterization. Here we present two targets from the Eclipsing Binary Low Mass (EBLM) survey that were observed with K2: EBLM J0055-00 and EBLM J2217-04. Combined with HARPS and CORALIE spectroscopy, we measure M-dwarf masses with precisions better than 5 per cent, radii better than 3 per cent, and effective temperatures on order 1 per cent. However, our fits require invoking a model to derive parameters for the primary star and fitting the M-dwarf using the transit and radial velocity observations. By investigating three popular stellar models, we determine that the model uncertainty in the primary star is of similar magnitude to the statistical uncertainty in the model fits of the secondary M-dwarf. Therefore, whilst these can be considered benchmark M-dwarfs, we caution the community to consider model uncertainty when pushing the limits of precise stellar characterization.

Abstract:

We report the discovery and orbital characterization of three new transiting warm giant planets. These systems were initially identified as presenting single-transit events in the light curves generated from the full-frame images of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. Follow-up radial velocity measurements and additional light curves were used to determine the orbital periods and confirm the planetary nature of the candidates. The planets orbit slightly metal-rich late F- and early G-type stars. We find that TOI 4406b has a mass of M P = 0.30 ± 0.04 M J, a radius of R P = 1.00 ± 0.02 R J, and a low-eccentricity orbit (e = 0.15 ± 0.05) with a period of P = 30.08364 ±0.00005 days. TOI 2338b has a mass of M P = 5.98 ± 0.20 M J, a radius of R P = 1.00 ± 0.01 R J, and a highly eccentric orbit (e = 0.676 ± 0.002) with a period of P = 22.65398 ± 0.00002 days. Finally, TOI 2589b has a mass of M P = 3.50 ± 0.10 M J, a radius of R P = 1.08 ± 0.03 R J, and an eccentric orbit (e = 0.522 ± 0.006) with a period of P = 61.6277 ± 0.0002 days. TOI 4406b and TOI 2338b are enriched in metals compared to their host stars, while the structure of TOI 2589b is consistent with having similar metal enrichment to its host star.

Abstract:

The K-type star TOI-2525 has an estimated mass of M = 0.849 − 0.033 + 0.024 M ⊙ and radius of R = 0.785 − 0.007 + 0.007 R ⊙ observed by the TESS mission in 22 sectors (within sectors 1 and 39). The TESS light curves yield significant transit events of two companions, which show strong transit timing variations (TTVs) with a semiamplitude of ∼6 hr. We performed TTV dynamical and photodynamical light-curve analysis of the TESS data combined with radial velocity measurements from FEROS and PFS, and we confirmed the planetary nature of these companions. The TOI-2525 system consists of a transiting pair of planets comparable to Neptune and Jupiter with estimated dynamical masses of m b = 0.088 − 0.004 + 0.005 and m c = 0.709 − 0.033 + 0.034 M Jup, radii of r b = 0.88 − 0.02 + 0.02 and r c = 0.98 − 0.02 + 0.02 R Jup, and orbital periods of P b = 23.288 − 0.002 + 0.001 and P c = 49.260 − 0.001 + 0.001 days for the inner and outer planet, respectively. The period ratio is close to the 2:1 period commensurability, but the dynamical simulations of the system suggest that it is outside the mean-motion resonance (MMR) dynamical configuration. Object TOI-2525 b is among the lowest-density Neptune-mass planets known to date, with an estimated median density of ρ b = 0.174 − 0.015 + 0.016 g cm⁻³. The TOI-2525 system is very similar to the other K dwarf systems discovered by TESS, TOI-2202 and TOI-216, which are composed of almost identical K dwarf primaries and two warm giant planets near the 2:1 MMR.

Abstract:

Eclipsing binaries are important benchmark objects to test and calibrate stellar structure and evolution models. This is especially true for binaries with a fully convective M-dwarf component for which direct measurements of these stars' masses and radii are difficult using other techniques. Within the potential of M-dwarfs to be exoplanet host stars, the accuracy of theoretical predictions of their radius and effective temperature as a function of their mass is an active topic of discussion. Not only the parameters of transiting exoplanets but also the success of future atmospheric characterization relies on accurate theoretical predictions. We present the analysis of five eclipsing binaries with low-mass stellar companions out of a subsample of 23, for which we obtained ultra-high-precision light curves using the CHEOPS satellite. The observation of their primary and secondary eclipses are combined with spectroscopic measurements to precisely model the primary parameters and derive the M-dwarfs mass, radius, surface gravity, and effective temperature estimates using the PYCHEOPS data analysis software. Combining these results to the same set of parameters derived from TESS light curves, we find very good agreement (better than 1 per cent for radius and better than 0.2 per cent for surface gravity). We also analyse the importance of precise orbits from radial velocity measurements and find them to be crucial to derive M-dwarf radii in a regime below 5 per cent accuracy. These results add five valuable data points to the mass-radius diagram of fully convective M-dwarfs.