Subscribe to the gold package and get unlimited access to Shamra Academy
Register a new userPhysical and orbital properties of Beta Pictoris b
120
0
0.0
(
0
)
Ask ChatGPT about the research
No Arabic abstract
The intermediate-mass star Beta Pictoris is known to be surrounded by a structured edge-on debris disk within which a gas giant planet was discovered orbiting at 8-10 AU. The physical properties of Beta Pic b were previously inferred from broad and narrow-band 0.9-4.8 microns photometry. We used commissioning data of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) to obtain new astrometry and a low-resolution (R=35-39) J-band (1.12-1.35 microns) spectrum of the planet. We find that the planet has passed the quadrature. We constrain its semi-major axis to $leq$ 10 AU (90 % prob.) with a peak at 8.9+0.4-0.6 AU. The joint fit of the planet astrometry and the most recent radial velocity measurements of the star yields a planets dynamical mass $leq$ 20 MJup (greater than 96 % prob.). The extracted spectrum of Beta Pic b is similar to those of young L1-1.5+1 dwarfs. We use the spectral type estimate to revise the planet luminosity to log(L/Lsun)=-3.90+-0.07. The 0.9-4.8 microns photometry and spectrum are reproduced for Teff=1650+-150 K and a log g lower than 4.7 dex by 12 grids of PHOENIX-based and LESIA atmospheric models. If we adopt the most recent system age estimate (21+-4 Myr), the bolometric luminosity and the constraints on the dynamical mass of Beta Pic b are only reproduced by warm- and hot-start tracks with initial entropies Si greater than 10.5 kB/baryon. Such initial conditions may result from an inefficient accretion shock and/or a planetesimal density at formation higher than in the classical core accretion model. Considering a younger age for the system or a conservative formation time for Beta Pic b does not change these conclusions.
rate research
Read More
We present $H$-band observations of $beta$ Pic with the Gemini Planet Imagers (GPIs) polarimetry mode that reveal the debris disk between ~0.3 (~6 AU) and ~1.7 (~33 AU), while simultaneously detecting $beta$ Pic $b$. The polarized disk image was fit with a dust density model combined with a Henyey-Greenstein scattering phase function. The best fit model indicates a disk inclined to the line of sight ($phi=85.27{deg}^{+0.26}_{-0.19}$) with a position angle $theta_{PA}=30.35{deg}^{+0.29}_{-0.28}$ (slightly offset from the main outer disk, $theta_{PA}approx29{deg}$), that extends from an inner disk radius of $23.6^{+0.9}_{-0.6}$ AU to well outside GPIs field of view. In addition, we present an updated orbit for $beta$ Pic $b$ based on new astrometric measurements taken in GPIs spectroscopic mode spanning 14 months. The planet has a semi-major axis of $a=9.2^{+1.5}_{-0.4}$AU, with an eccentricity $eleq 0.26$. The position angle of the ascending node is $Omega=31.75{deg}pm0.15$, offset from both the outer main disk and the inner disk seen in the GPI image. The orbital fit constrains the stellar mass of $beta$ Pic to $1.60pm0.05 M_{odot}$. Dynamical sculpting by $beta$ Pic $b$ cannot easily account for the following three aspects of the inferred disk properties: 1) the modeled inner radius of the disk is farther out than expected if caused by $beta$ Pic b; 2) the mutual inclination of the inner disk and $beta$ Pic $b$ is $4{deg}$, when it is expected to be closer to zero; and 3) the aspect ratio of the disk ($h_0 = 0.137^{+0.005}_{-0.006}$) is larger than expected from interactions with $beta$ Pic $b$ or self-stirring by the disks parent bodies.
Context. {beta} Pictoris b is one of the most studied objects nowadays since it was identified with VLT/NaCo as a bona-fide exoplanet with a mass of about 9 times that of Jupiter at an orbital separation of 8-9 AU. The link between the planet and the dusty disk is unambiguously attested and this system provides an opportunity to study the disk/planet interactions and to constrain formation and evolutionary models of gas giant planets. Still, {beta} Pictoris b had never been confirmed with other telescopes so far. Aims. We aimed at an independent confirmation using a different instrument. Methods. We retrieved archive images from Gemini South obtained with the instrument NICI, which is designed for high contrast imaging. The observations combine coronagraphy and angular differential imaging and were obtained at three epochs in Nov. 2008, Dec. 2009 and Dec. 2010. Results. We report the detection with NICI of the planet {beta} Pictoris b in Dec. 2010 images at a separation of 404 pm 10 mas and P A = 212.1 pm 0.7{deg} . It is the first time this planet is observed with a telescope different than the VLT.
Recent ALMA observations unveiled the structure of CO gas in the 23 Myr-old $beta$ Pictoris planetary system, a component that has been discovered in many similarly young debris disks. We here present ALMA CO J=2-1 observations, at an improved spectro-spatial resolution and sensitivity compared to previous CO J=3-2 observations. We find that 1) the CO clump is radially broad, favouring the resonant migration over the giant impact scenario for its dynamical origin, 2) the CO disk is vertically tilted compared to the main dust disk, at an angle consistent with the scattered light warp. We then use position-velocity diagrams to trace Keplerian radii in the orbital plane of the disk. Assuming a perfectly edge-on geometry, this shows a CO scale height increasing with radius as $R^{0.75}$, and an electron density (derived from CO line ratios through NLTE analysis) in agreement with thermodynamical models. Furthermore, we show how observations of optically thin line ratios can solve the primordial versus secondary origin dichotomy in gas-bearing debris disks. As shown for $beta$ Pictoris, subthermal (NLTE) CO excitation is symptomatic of H$_2$ densities that are insufficient to shield CO from photodissociation over the systems lifetime. This means that replenishment from exocometary volatiles must be taking place, proving the secondary origin of the disk. In this scenario, assuming steady state production/destruction of CO gas, we derive the CO+CO$_2$ ice abundance by mass in $beta$ Pics exocomets to be at most $sim$6%, consistent with comets in our own Solar System and in the coeval HD181327 system.
With an orbital distance comparable to that of Saturn in the solar system, bpic b is the closest (semi-major axis $simeq$,9,au) exoplanet that has been imaged to orbit a star. Thus it offers unique opportunities for detailed studies of its orbital, physical, and atmospheric properties, and of disk-planet interactions. With the exception of the discovery observations in 2003 with NaCo at the Very Large Telescope (VLT), all following astrometric measurements relative to bpic have been obtained in the southwestern part of the orbit, which severely limits the determination of the planets orbital parameters. We aimed at further constraining bpic b orbital properties using more data, and, in particular, data taken in the northeastern part of the orbit. We used SPHERE at the VLT to precisely monitor the orbital motion of beta bpic b since first light of the instrument in 2014. We were able to monitor the planet until November 2016, when its angular separation became too small (125 mas, i.e., 1.6,au) and prevented further detection. We redetected bpic b on the northeast side of the disk at a separation of 139,mas and a PA of 30$^{circ}$ in September 2018. The planetary orbit is now well constrained. With a semi-major axis (sma) of $a = 9.0 pm 0.5$ au (1 $sigma $), it definitely excludes previously reported possible long orbital periods, and excludes bpic b as the origin of photometric variations that took place in 1981. We also refine the eccentricity and inclination of the planet. From an instrumental point of view, these data demonstrate that it is possible to detect, if they exist, young massive Jupiters that orbit at less than 2 au from a star that is 20 pc away.
A principal scientific goal of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) is obtaining milliarcsecond astrometry to constrain exoplanet orbits. However, astrometry of directly imaged exoplanets is subject to biases, systematic errors, and speckle noise. Here we describe an analytical procedure to forward model the signal of an exoplanet that accounts for both the observing strategy (angular and spectral differential imaging) and the data reduction method (Karhunen-Lo`eve Image Projection algorithm). We use this forward model to measure the position of an exoplanet in a Bayesian framework employing Gaussian processes and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) to account for correlated noise. In the case of GPI data on $beta$ Pic b, this technique, which we call Bayesian KLIP-FM Astrometry (BKA), outperforms previous techniques and yields 1$sigma$-errors at or below the one milliarcsecond level. We validate BKA by fitting a Keplerian orbit to twelve GPI observations along with previous astrometry from other instruments. The statistical properties of the residuals confirm that BKA is accurate and correctly estimates astrometric errors. Our constraints on the orbit of $beta$ Pic b firmly rule out the possibility of a transit of the planet at 10-$sigma$ significance. However, we confirm that the Hill sphere of $beta$ Pic b will transit, giving us a rare chance to probe the circumplanetary environment of a young, evolving exoplanet. We provide an ephemeris for photometric monitoring of the Hill sphere transit event, which will begin at the start of April in 2017 and finish at the end of January in 2018.
Log in to be able to interact and post comments
comments
Fetching comments
Sign in to be able to follow your search criteria
