No Arabic abstract
A significant fraction of main sequence stars observed interferometrically in the near infrared have slightly extended components that have been attributed to very hot dust. To match the spectrum appears to require the presence of large numbers of very small (< 200 nm in radius) dust grains. However, particularly for the hotter stars, it has been unclear how such grains can be retained close to the star against radiation pressure force. We find that the expected weak stellar magnetic fields are sufficient to trap nm-sized dust grains in epicyclic orbits for a few weeks or longer, sufficient to account for the hot excess emission. Our models provide a natural explanation for the requirement that the hot excess dust grains be smaller than 200 nm. They also suggest that magnetic trapping is more effective for rapidly rotating stars, consistent with the average vsini measurements of stars with hot excesses being larger (at about 2 sigma) than those for stars without such excesses.
Dusty debris disks around pre- and main-sequence stars are potential signposts for the existence of planetesimals and exoplanets. Giant planet formation is therefore expected to play a key role in the evolution of the disk. This is indirectly confirmed by extant sub-millimeter near-infrared images of young protoplanetary and cool dusty debris disks around main sequence stars usually showing substantial spatial structures. A majority of recent discoveries of imaged giant planets have been obtained around young, early-type stars hosting a circumstellar disk. In this context, we have carried out a direct imaging program designed to maximize our chances of giant planet discovery and targeting twenty-two young, early-type stars. About half of them show indication of multi-belt architectures. Using the IRDIS dual-band imager and the IFS integral field spectrograph of SPHERE to acquire high-constrast coronagraphic differential near-infrared images, we have conducted a systematic search in the close environment of these young, dusty and early-type stars. We confirmed that companions detected around HIP 34276, HIP 101800 and HIP 117452 are stationary background sources and binary companions. The companion candidates around HIP 8832, HIP 16095 and HIP 95619 are determined as background contamination. For stars for which we infer the presence of debris belts, a theoretical minimum mass for planets required to clear the debris gaps can be calculated . The dynamical mass limit is at least $0.1 M_J$ and can exceed $1 M_J$. Direct imaging data is typically sensitive to planets down to $sim 3.6 M_J$ at 1 $$, and $1.7 M_J$ in the best case. These two limits tightly constrain the possible planetary systems present around each target. These systems will be probably detectable with the next generation of planet imagers.
We determine the fraction of F, G, and K dwarfs in the Solar Neighborhood hosting hot jupiters as measured by the California Planet Survey from the Lick and Keck planet searches. We find the rate to be 1.2pm0.38%, which is consistent with the rate reported by Mayor et al. (2011) from the HARPS and CORALIE radial velocity surveys. These numbers are more than double the rate reported by Howard et al. (2011) for Kepler stars and the rate of Gould et al. (2006) from the OGLE-III transit search, however due to small number statistics these differences are of only marginal statistical significance. We explore some of the difficulties in estimating this rate from the existing radial velocity data sets and comparing radial velocity rates to rates from other techniques.
Internal gravity waves are excited at the interface of convection and radiation zones of a solar-type star by the tidal forcing of a short-period planet. The fate of these waves as they approach the centre of the star depends on their amplitude. We discuss the results of numerical simulations of these waves approaching the centre of a star, and the resulting evolution of the spin of the central regions of the star, and the orbit of the planet. If the waves break, we find efficient tidal dissipation, which is not present if the waves perfectly reflect from the centre. This highlights an important amplitude dependence of the (stellar) tidal quality factor Q, which has implications for the survival of planets on short-period orbits around solar-type stars, with radiative cores.
Lambda Boo stars are predominately A-type stars with solar abundant C, N, O, and S, but up to 2 dex underabundances of refractory elements. The stars unusual surface abundances could be due to a selective accretion of volatile gas over dust. It has been proposed that there is a correlation between the Lambda Boo phenomenon and IR-excesses which are the result of a debris disk or interstellar medium (ISM) interaction providing the accreting material. We observe 70 or 100 and 160 $mu$m excess emission around 9 confirmed Lambda Boo stars with the Herschel Space Observatory, to differentiate whether the dust emission is from a debris disk or an ISM bow wave. We find that 3/9 stars observed host well resolved debris disks. While the remaining 6/9 are not resolved, they are inconsistent with an ISM bow wave based on the dust emission being more compact for its temperature and predicted bow wave models produce hotter emission than what is observed. We find the incidence of bright IR-excesses around Lambda Boo stars is higher than normal A-stars. To explain this given our observations, we explore Poynting-Robertson (PR) drag as a mechanism of accretion from a debris disk but find it insufficient. As an alternative, we propose the correlation is due to higher dynamical activity in the disks currently underway. Large impacts of planetesimals or a higher influx of comets could provide enough volatile gas for accretion. Further study on the transport of circumstellar material in relation to the abundance anomalies are required to explain the phenomenon through external accretion.
We report the discovery of WASP-26b, a moderately over-sized Jupiter-mass exoplanet transiting its 11.3-magnitude early-G-type host star (1SWASP J001824.70-151602.3; TYC 5839-876-1) every 2.7566 days. A simultaneous fit to transit photometry and radial-velocity measurements yields a planetary mass of 1.02 +/- 0.03 M_Jup and radius of 1.32 +/- 0.08 R_Jup. The host star, WASP-26, has a mass of 1.12 +/- 0.03 M_sun and a radius of 1.34 +/- 0.06 R_sun and is in a visual double with a fainter K-type star. The two stars are at least a common-proper motion pair with a common distance of around 250 +/- 15 pc and an age of 6 +/- 2 Gy.