IRSF SIRIUS JHKs Simultaneous Transit Photometry of GJ1214b


Abstract in English

We report high precision transit photometry of GJ1214b in JHKs bands taken simultaneously with the SIRIUS camera on the IRSF 1.4m telescope at Sutherland, South Africa. Our MCMC analyses show that the observed planet-to-star radius ratios in JHKs bands are R_{rm p}/R_{rm s,J} = 0.11833 pm 0.00077, R_{rm p}/R_{rm s,H} = 0.11522 pm 0.00079, R_{rm p}/R_{rm s,Ks} = 0.11459 pm 0.00099, respectively. The radius ratios are well consistent with the previous studies by Bean et al. (2011) within 1sigma, while our result in Ks band is shallower than and inconsistent at 4sigma level with the previous measurements in the same band by Croll et al. (2011). We have no good explanation for this discrepancy at this point. Our overall results support a flat transmission spectrum in the observed bands, which can be explained by a water-dominated atmosphere or an atmosphere with extensive high-altitude clouds or haze. To solve the discrepancy of the radius ratios and to discriminate a definitive atmosphere model for GJ1214b in the future, further transit observations around Ks band would be especially important.

Download