Radial Velocity Amplitude Research Articles

A multi-planetary system orbiting the early-M dwarf TOI-1238

Context. The number of super-Earth and Earth-mass planet discoveries has increased significantly in the last two decades thanks to the Doppler radial velocity and planetary transit observing techniques. Either technique can detect planet candidates on its own, but the power of a combined photometric and spectroscopic analysis is unique for an insightful characterization of the planets, which in turn has repercussions for our understanding of the architecture of planetary systems and, therefore, their formation and evolution. Aims. Two transiting planet candidates with super-Earth radii around the nearby (d = 70.64 ± 0.06 pc) K7–M0 dwarf star TOI-1238 were announced by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which observed the field of TOI-1238 in four different sectors. We aim to validate their planetary nature using precise radial velocities taken with the CARMENES spectrograph. Methods. We obtained 55 CARMENES radial velocity measurements that span the 11 months between 9 May 2020 and 5 April 2021. For a better characterization of the parent star’s activity, we also collected contemporaneous optical photometric observations at the Joan Oró and Sierra Nevada observatories and retrieved archival photometry from the literature. We performed a combined TESS+CARMENES photometric and spectroscopic analysis by including Gaussian processes and Keplerian orbits to account for the stellar activity and planetary signals simultaneously. Results. We estimate that TOI-1238 has a rotation period of 40 ± 5 d based on photometric and spectroscopic data. The combined analysis confirms the discovery of two transiting planets, TOI-1238 b and c, with orbital periods of 0.764597−0.000011+0.000013 d and 3.294736−0.000036+0.000034 d, masses of 3.76−1.07+1.15 M⊕ and 8.32−1.88+1.90 M⊕, and radii of 1.21−0.10+0.11 R⊕ and 2.11−0.14+0.14 R⊕. They orbit their parent star at semimajor axes of 0.0137 ± 0.0004 au and 0.036 ± 0.001 au, respectively.The two planets are placed on opposite sides of the radius valley for M dwarfs and lie between the star and the inner border of TOI-1238’s habitable zone. The inner super-Earth TOI-1238 b is one of the densest ultra-short-period planets ever discovered (ρ = 11.7−3.4+4.2 g cm−3). The CARMENES data also reveal the presence of an outer, non-transiting, more massive companion with an orbital period and radial velocity amplitude of ≥600 d and ≥70 m s−1, which implies a likely mass of M ≥ 2 √(1− e2) MJup and a separation ≥1.1 au from its parent star.

The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs

Context. M dwarfs are ideal targets for the search of Earth-size planets in the habitable zone using the radial velocity method, and are attracting the attention of many ongoing surveys. One of the expected results of these surveys is that new multiple-star systems have also been found. This is the case also for the CARMENES survey, thanks to which nine new double-line spectroscopic binary systems have already been announced. Aims. Throughout the five years of the survey the accumulation of new observations has resulted in the detection of several new multiple-stellar systems with long periods and low radial-velocity amplitudes. Here we newly characterise the spectroscopic orbits and constrain the masses of eight systems and update the properties of a system that we had reported earlier. Methods. We derived the radial velocities of the stars using two-dimensional cross-correlation techniques and template matching. The measurements were modelled to determine the orbital parameters of the systems. We combined CARMENES spectroscopic observations with archival high-resolution spectra from other instruments to increase the time span of the observations and improve our analysis. When available, we also added archival photometric, astrometric, and adaptive optics imaging data to constrain the rotation periods and absolute masses of the components. Results. We determined the spectroscopic orbits of nine multiple systems, eight of which are presented for the first time. The sample is composed of five single-line binaries, two double-line binaries, and two triple-line spectroscopic triple systems. The companions of two of the single-line binaries, GJ 3626 and GJ 912, have minimum masses below the stellar boundary, and thus could be brown dwarfs. We found a new white dwarf in a close binary orbit around the M star GJ 207.1, located at a distance of 15.79 pc. From a global fit to radial velocities and astrometric measurements, we were able to determine the absolute masses of the components of GJ 282 C, which is one of the youngest systems with measured dynamical masses.

Estimating Physical Properties of Confirmed Exoplanets: I. Calculation of essential planetary properties-Possible M-R cataloging of exoplanets

The discovery of extrasolar planets outside our solar system and around other stars is now well underway. In the presented paper, calculations of some physical properties for confirmed exoplanets have been done. We have estimated physical properties such as the semi-major axis for potentially habitable exoplanets, the mass of planets by applying Kepler's third law around the mass of solar, Jupiter, and Earth-mass, stellar luminosity, habitability zone for the inner center and outer regions, radial velocity amplitude, planetary equilibrium temperature (PET) or effective radiation emission temperature and planet density. The mass-radius (MR) relationship of planets was investigated for potentially habitable exoplanets of three different groups of extrasolar planets: Subterran (Mars-size), Terran (Earth-size), and Superterran (Super-Earths or Mini-Neptunes); introduced in PHL, and found well coefficient values for each group. The minimum and maximum values for the mass and radius of exoplanets have been selected from 0.1< M < 10 M⊕ and 0.4< R < 2.5 R⊕ . The same MR relationship has also estimated the same properties for a larger number of confirmed exoplanets with a mass and radius of 0.1< M <100 M⊕ and 0.4< R < 15 R⊕ , respectively, resulting their classification within 7 groups of mass and radius, with good coefficient values for each group. This is a new, possible cataloging that may need more effort for concluding a better understanding of the properties and varieties of the exoplanets.

The relationship between photometric and spectroscopic oscillation amplitudes from 3D stellar atmosphere simulations.

We establish a quantitative relationship between photometric and spectroscopic detections of solar-like oscillations using ab initio, 3D, hydrodynamical numerical simulations of stellar atmospheres. We present a theoretical derivation as a proof of concept for our method. We perform realistic spectral line formation calculations to quantify the ratio between luminosity and radial velocity amplitude for two case studies: the Sun and the red giant ϵ Tau. Luminosity amplitudes are computed based on the bolometric flux predicted by 3D simulations with granulation background modelled the same way as asteroseismic observations. Radial velocity amplitudes are determined from the wavelength shift of synthesized spectral lines with methods closely resembling those used in Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network (BiSON) and Stellar Oscillations Network Group (SONG) observations. Consequently, the theoretical luminosity to radial velocity amplitude ratios are directly comparable with corresponding observations. For the Sun, we predict theoretical ratios of 21.0 and 23.7ppm [m s-1]-1 from BiSON and SONG, respectively, in good agreement with observations 19.1 and 21.6ppm [m s-1]-1. For ϵ Tau, we predict K2 and SONG ratios of 48.4ppm [m s-1]-1, again in good agreement with observations 42.2ppm [m s-1]-1, and much improved over the result from conventional empirical scaling relations that give 23.2ppm [m s-1]-1. This study thus opens the path towards a quantitative understanding of solar-like oscillations, via detailed modelling of 3D stellar atmospheres.

PSR J1810+1744: Companion Darkening and a Precise High Neutron Star Mass

Abstract Keck-telescope spectrophotometry of the companion of PSR J1810+1744 shows a flat, but asymmetric light-curve maximum and a deep, narrow minimum. The maximum indicates strong gravity darkening (GD) near the L 1 point, along with a heated pole and surface winds. The minimum indicates a low underlying temperature and substantial limb darkening. The GD is a consequence of extreme pulsar heating and the near-filling of the Roche lobe. Light-curve modeling gives a binary inclination i = 65.°7 ± 0.°4. With the Keck-measured radial-velocity amplitude K c = 462.3 ± 2.2 km s−1, this gives an accurate neutron star mass M NS = 2.13 ± 0.04 M ⊙, with important implications for the dense-matter equation of state. A classic direct-heating model, ignoring the L 1 gravitational darkening, would predict an unphysical M NS > 3 M ⊙. A few other “spider” pulsar binaries have similar large heating and fill factor; thus, they should be checked for such effects.

Ice giant seismology: prospecting for normal modes.

The properties of ice giant normal mode oscillations, including their periods, spatial structure, stratospheric amplitudes and relative influence on the external gravity field, are surveyed for the purpose of formulating the best strategy for their eventual detection. Measurement requirements for detecting a normal mode's periodic pressure and temperature variations, including a possible stratospheric signal, and its effect on the external gravity field, are discussed in terms of its radial velocity amplitude at the 1 bar pressure level. It is found that for reasonable amplitudes, detection of the pressure and temperature variations of ice giant normal modes presents an extraordinary technical challenge. The prospects for detecting their gravitational influence on an orbiting spacecraft are more promising, with requirements that lie within the range of current technology. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Future exploration of ice giant systems'.

Is HR 6819 a triple system containing a black hole?

Context. HR 6819 was recently proposed to be a triple system consisting of an inner B-type giant plus black hole (BH) binary with an orbital period of 40 d and an outer Be tertiary. This interpretation is mainly based on two inferences: that the emission attributed to the outer Be star is stationary and that the inner star, which is used as mass calibrator for the BH, is a B-type giant. Aims. We re-investigate the properties of HR 6819 to search for a possibly simpler alternative explanation for HR 6819, which does not invoke the presence of a triple system with a BH in the inner binary. Methods. Based on an orbital analysis, the disentangling of the spectra of the two visible components and the atmosphere analysis of the disentangled spectra, we investigate the configuration of the system and the nature of its components. Results. Disentangling implies that the Be component is not a static tertiary, but rather a component of the binary in the 40 d orbit. The inferred radial velocity amplitudes of K1 = 60.4 ± 1.0 km s−1 for the B-type primary and K2 = 4.0 ± 0.8 km s−1 for the Be-type secondary imply an extreme mass ratio of M2/M1 = 15 ± 3. We find that the B-type primary, which we estimate to contribute about 45% to the optical flux, has an effective temperature of Teff = 16 ± 1 kK and a surface gravity of log g = 2.8 ± 0.2 [cgs], while the Be secondary, which contributes about 55% to the optical flux, has Teff = 20 ± 2 kK and log g = 4.0 ± 0.3 [cgs]. We infer spectroscopic masses of 0.4−0.1+0.3and 6−3+5 for the primary and secondary which agree well with the dynamical masses for an inclination of i = 32°. This indicates that the primary might be a stripped star rather than a B-type giant. Evolutionary modelling suggests that a possible progenitor system would be a tight (Pi ≈ 2 d) B+B binary system that experienced conservative mass transfer. While the observed nitrogen enrichment of the primary conforms with the predictions of the evolutionary models, we find no indications for the predicted He enrichment. Conclusions. We suggest that HR 6819 is a binary system consisting of a stripped B-type primary and a rapidly-rotating Be star that formed from a previous mass-transfer event. In the framework of this interpretation, HR 6819 does not contain a BH. Interferometry can distinguish between these two scenarios by providing an independent measurement of the separation between the visible components.

Phase-dependent Study of Near-infrared Disk Emission Lines in LB-1

Abstract The mass, origin, and evolutionary stage of the binary system LB-1 have been intensely debated, following the claim that it hosts an ∼70M ⊙ black hole, in stark contrast with the expectations for Galactic remnants. We conducted a high-resolution, phase-resolved spectroscopic study of its Paschen lines, using the Calar Alto 3.5 m telescope. We find that Paβ and Paγ (after subtraction of the stellar absorption component) are well fitted with a standard double-peaked disk profile. We measured the velocity shifts of the red and blue peaks at 28 orbital phases: the line center has an orbital motion in perfect antiphase with the secondary, and the radial velocity amplitude ranges from 8 to 13 km s−1, for different methods of profile modeling. We interpret this curve as proof that the disk traces the orbital motion of the primary, ruling out the circumbinary disk and the hierarchical triple scenarios. The phase-averaged peak-to-peak half-separation (a proxy for the projected rotational velocity of the outer part of the disk) is ∼70 km s−1, larger than the orbital velocity of the secondary and inconsistent with a circumbinary disk. From those results, we infer a primary mass 4–8 times higher than the secondary mass. Moreover, we show that the intensity ratio of the blue and red peaks has a sinusoidal behavior in phase with the secondary, which we attribute to external irradiation of the outer part of the disk. Finally, we discuss our findings in the context of competing scenarios proposed for LB-1. Further astrometric Gaia data will test between alternative solutions.

Limits on the orbits of possible exomoons around Kepler giant planets in the habitable zone

Regions of Hill stability were determined using the full three-body theory for the planetary candidates that were found by the Kepler mission to lie in the Habitable Zone of the host star with radii larger than 3 Earth radii. The values obtained give a more accurate assessment of the sphere of influence of a planet than does the Hill radius using the restricted three-body expression. The values given by the two estimates for circular orbits are compared. The variation in the full three-body Hill regions were examined for a variety of possible moon masses and orbital eccentricities and inclinations. It was found that the critical moon planet separation decreased with increased moon orbital eccentricity and inclination but to a far greater extent when the planetary orbital eccentricity increased suggesting they would lie inside the Roche limit and are unlikely to have formed or exist now. The angular separation of the moon and planet and the radial velocity amplitudes of the planets likely to be observed are also affected. This is important for future observations and missions. It was also found that the giant planets in the habitable zone lie in a narrow band that can be fitted by a linear regression relation between log10(Planet luminosity) and log10 (Planet temperature) with a slope of 3.34.

Transit least-squares survey

The Sun-like star Kepler-160 (KOI-456) has been known to host two transiting planets, Kepler-160 b and c, of which planet c shows substantial transit-timing variations (TTVs). We studied the transit photometry and the TTVs of this system in our search for a suspected third planet. We used the archival Kepler photometry of Kepler-160 to search for additional transiting planets using a combination of our Wōtan detrending algorithm and our transit least-squares detection algorithm. We also used the Mercury N-body gravity code to study the orbital dynamics of the system in trying to explain the observed TTVs of planet c. First, we recovered the known transit series of planets Kepler-160 b and c. Then we found a new transiting candidate with a radius of 1.91−0.14+0.17 Earth radii (R⊕), an orbital period of 378.417−0.025+0.028 d, and Earth-like insolation. The vespa software predicts that this signal has an astrophysical false-positive probability of FPP3 = 1.8 × 10−3 when the multiplicity of the system is taken into account. Kepler vetting diagnostics yield a multiple event statistic of MES = 10.7, which corresponds to an ~85% reliability against false alarms due to instrumental artifacts such as rolling bands. We are also able to explain the observed TTVs of planet c with the presence of a previously unknown planet. The period and mass of this new planet, however, do not match the period and mass of the new transit candidate. Our Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations of the TTVs of Kepler-160 c can be conclusively explained by a new nontransiting planet with a mass between about 1 and 100 Earth masses and an orbital period between about 7 and 50 d. We conclude that Kepler-160 has at least three planets, one of which is the nontransiting planet Kepler-160 d. The expected stellar radial velocity amplitude caused by this new planet ranges between about 1 and 20 m s−1. We also find the super-Earth-sized transiting planet candidate KOI-456.04 in the habitable zone of this system, which could be the fourth planet.

Properties of OB star−black hole systems derived from detailed binary evolution models

Context. The recent gravitational wave measurements have demonstrated the existence of stellar mass black hole binaries. It is essential for our understanding of massive star evolution to identify the contribution of binary evolution to the formation of double black holes. Aims. A promising way to progress is investigating the progenitors of double black hole systems and comparing predictions with local massive star samples, such as the population in 30 Doradus in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Methods. With this purpose in mind, we analysed a large grid of detailed binary evolution models at LMC metallicity with initial primary masses between 10 and 40 M⊙, and identified the model systems that potentially evolve into a binary consisting of a black hole and a massive main-sequence star. We then derived the observable properties of such systems, as well as peculiarities of the OB star component. Results. We find that ∼3% of the LMC late-O and early-B stars in binaries are expected to possess a black hole companion when stars with a final helium core mass above 6.6 M⊙ are assumed to form black holes. While the vast majority of them may be X-ray quiet, our models suggest that these black holes may be identified in spectroscopic binaries, either by large amplitude radial velocity variations (≳50 km s−1) and simultaneous nitrogen surface enrichment, or through a moderate radial velocity (≳10 km s−1) and simultaneous rapid rotation of the OB star. The predicted mass ratios are such that main-sequence companions can be excluded in most cases. A comparison to the observed OB+WR binaries in the LMC, Be and X-ray binaries, and known massive black hole binaries supports our conclusion. Conclusions. We expect spectroscopic observations to be able to test key assumptions in our models, with important implications for massive star evolution in general and for the formation of double black hole mergers in particular.

The GAPS Programme at TNG

Context. The existence of hot Jupiters is still not well understood. Two main channels are thought to be responsible for their current location: a smooth planet migration through the protoplanetary disk or the circularization of an initial highly eccentric orbit by tidal dissipation leading to a strong decrease in the semimajor axis. Different formation scenarios result in different observable effects, such as orbital parameters (obliquity and eccentricity) or frequency of planets at different stellar ages. Aims. In the context of the GAPS Young Objects project, we are carrying out a radial velocity survey with the aim of searching and characterizing young hot-Jupiter planets. Our purpose is to put constraints on evolutionary models and establish statistical properties, such as the frequency of these planets from a homogeneous sample. Methods. Since young stars are in general magnetically very active, we performed multi-band (visible and near-infrared) spectroscopy with simultaneous GIANO-B + HARPS-N (GIARPS) observing mode at TNG. This helps in dealing with stellar activity and distinguishing the nature of radial velocity variations: stellar activity will introduce a wavelength-dependent radial velocity amplitude, whereas a Keplerian signal is achromatic. As a pilot study, we present here the cases of two known hot Jupiters orbiting young stars: HD 285507 b and AD Leo b. Results. Our analysis of simultaneous high-precision GIARPS spectroscopic data confirms the Keplerian nature of the variation in the HD 285507 radial velocities and refines the orbital parameters of the hot Jupiter, obtaining an eccentricity consistent with a circular orbit. Instead, our analysis does not confirm the signal previously attributed to a planet orbiting AD Leo. This demonstrates the power of the multi-band spectroscopic technique when observing active stars.

Atmospheric Circulation on Black Widow Companions

Abstract We present a model for atmospheric wind circulation in binary millisecond pulsar (MSP) companions, showing how the optical light curve (LC) and radial velocities are sensitive to the wind flow, causing LC orbital phase shifts and asymmetries, as observed for several “spider” MSPs. Velocity widths of spectral lines offer additional opportunities for measuring surface wind speed. As examples, we fit optical data for the black widow pulsar J1959+2048 and the redback pulsar J2215+5135; the wind heating models (WH) are statistically strongly preferred over direct heating (DH) for both objects, although the latter is even better fit with a heated spot. In general, WH effects tend to increase the inferred orbital inclination i and decrease the inferred companion center-of-mass radial velocity amplitude K c ; both effects decrease the inferred neutron star mass. Even with such a decrease, we find large masses for the two neutron stars: and , respectively (for the modest surface speeds fit from the bulk heat flow; supersonic photospheric winds can slightly change these values). These are among the highest masses known, and our improved modeling increases confidence that the results are important for understanding the dense matter equation of state.

Exoplanet system Kepler-2 with comparisons to Kepler-1 and 13

We have carried out an intensive study of photometric (Kepler Mission) and spectroscopic data on the system Kepler-2 (HAT-P-7A) using the dedicated software WinFitter. The mean individual data-point error of the normalized flux values for this system is 0.00015, leading to the model's specification for the mean reference flux to an accuracy of $\sim$0.5 ppm. This testifies to the remarkably high accuracy of the binned data-set, derived from over 1.8 million individual observations. Spectroscopic data are reported with the similarly high-accuracy radial velocity amplitude measure of $\sim$2 m s$^{-1}$. The analysis includes discussion of the fitting quality and model adequacy. Our derived absolute parameters for Kepler-2 are as follows: $M_p$ (Jupiter) 1.80 $\pm$ 0.13; $R_{\star}$ 1.46 $\pm 0.08 \times 10^6$ km; $R_p$ 1.15 $\pm 0.07 \times 10^5$ km. These values imply somewhat larger and less condensed bodies than previously catalogued, but within reasonable error estimates of such literature parameters. We find also tidal, reflection and Doppler effect parameters, showing that the optimal model specification differs slightly from a `cleaned' model that reduces the standard deviation of the $\sim$3600 binned light curve points to less than 0.9 ppm. We consider these slight differences, making comparisons with the hot-jupiter systems Kepler-1 (TrES-2) and 13.

Radial Velocity Photon Limits for the Dwarf Stars of Spectral Classes F–M

Abstract The determination of extrasolar planet masses with the radial velocity (RV) technique requires spectroscopic Doppler information from the planet’s host star, which varies with stellar brightness and temperature. We analyze the Doppler information in spectra from dwarfs of spectral types F–M utilizing empirical information from HARPS and CARMENES data and model spectra. We revisit the question of whether optical or near-infrared instruments are more efficient for RV observations in low-mass stars, and we come to the conclusion that an optical setup (BVR bands) is more efficient than a near-infrared one (YJHK) in dwarf stars hotter than 3200 K. We publish a catalog of 46,480 well-studied F–M dwarfs in the solar neighborhood, and we compare its distribution to more than 1 million stars from Gaia DR2. For all stars, we estimate the RV photon noise achievable in typical observations under the assumption of no activity jitter and slow rotation. We find that with an ESPRESSO-like instrument at an 8 m telescope, a photon noise limit of 10 cm s−1 or lower can be reached in more than 280 stars in a 5 minute observation. At 4 m telescopes, a photon noise limit of 1 m s−1 can be reached in a 10 minute exposure in approximately 10,000 predominantly Sun-like stars with a HARPS-like (optical) instrument. The same applies to ∼3000 stars for a red optical setup that covers the R and I bands and ∼700 stars for a near-infrared instrument. For the latter two, many of the targets are nearby M dwarfs. Finally, we identify targets in which Earth-mass planets within the liquid water habitable zone can cause RV amplitudes comparable to the RV photon noise. Assuming the same exposure times as above, we find that an ESPRESSO-like instrument can reach this limit for 1 M ⊕ planets in more than 1000 stars. The optical, red optical, and near-infrared configurations reach the limit for 2 M ⊕ planets in approximately 500, 700, and 200 stars, respectively. An online tool is provided to estimate the RV photon noise as a function of stellar temperature and brightness and wavelength coverage.

Neglected X-ray discovered polars

We report on the X-ray observations of the eclipsing polar HY Eri (RX J0501–0359), along with its photometric, spectrophotometric, and spectropolarimetric optical variations, collected over 30 years. With an orbital period of 2.855 h, HY Eri falls near the upper edge of the 2–3 h period gap. After 2011, the system went into a prolonged low state, continuing to accrete at a low level. We present an accurate alias-free long-term orbital ephemeris and report a highly significant period change by 10 ms that took place over the time interval from 2011 to 2018. We acquired a high-quality eclipse spectrum that shows the secondary star as a dM5–6 dwarf at a distance d = 1050 ± 110 pc. Based on phase-resolved cyclotron and Zeeman spectroscopy, we identify the white dwarf (WD) in HY Eri as a two-pole accretor with nearly opposite accretion spots of 28 and 30 MG. The Zeeman analysis of the low state spectrum reveals a complex magnetic field structure, which we fit by a multipole model. We detected narrow emission lines from the irradiated face of the secondary star, of which Mg Iλ5170 with a radial velocity amplitude of K′2 = 139 ± 10 km s−1 (90% confidence) tracks the secondary more reliably than the narrow Hα line. Based on the combined dynamical analysis and spectroscopic measurement of the angular radius of the WD, we obtain a primary mass of M1 = 0.42 ± 0.05 M⊙ (90% confidence errors), identifying it as a probable He WD or hybrid HeCO WD. The secondary is a main sequence star of M2 = 0.24 ± 0.04 M⊙ that seems to be slightly inflated. The large distance of HY Eri and the lack of similar systems suggest a very low space density of polars with low-mass primary. According to current theory, these systems are destroyed by induced runaway mass transfer, suggesting that HY Eri may be doomed to destruction. Over the last 30 years, HY Eri experienced high and low states with mass transfer rates that differed by three orders of magnitude, varying between Ṁ ≃ 10−9 M⊙ yr−1 and 10−12 M⊙ yr−1. At a galactic latitude of −26.1°, it is located about 500 pc below the galactic plane.

An Apparently Eccentric Orbit of the Exoplanet WASP-12 b as a Radial Velocity Signature of Planetary-induced Tides in the Host Star

Abstract Massive exoplanets on extremely tight orbits, such as WASP-12 b, induce equilibrium tides in their host stars. Following the orbital motion of the planet, the tidal fluid flow in the star can be detected with the radial velocity method. Its signature manifests as the second harmonics of the orbital frequency that mimics a nonzero orbital eccentricity. Using the new radial velocity measurements acquired with the HARPS-N spectrograph at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo and combining them with the literature data, we show that the apparent eccentricity of WASP-12 b’s orbit is nonzero at a 5.8σ level, and the longitude of periastron of this apparently eccentric orbit is close to 270°. This orbital configuration is compatible with a model composed of a circular orbit and a signature of tides raised in the host star. The radial velocity amplitude of those tides was found to be consistent with the equilibrium tide approximation. The tidal deformation is predicted to produce a flux modulation with an amplitude of 80 ppm that could be detected using space-borne facilities.

Multidimensional Information Fusion in Active Sonar via the Generalized Labeled Multi-Bernoulli Filter

Under the conditions of low detection probabilities, high clutter rates, low data-sampling rates, large measurement errors, and unknown prior information of the target position, multi-object tracking is difficult. This paper proposes a multidimensional information fusion method in active sonar via the generalized labeled multi-Bernoulli (GLMB) filter. After modeling the position measurement, radial velocity measurement and amplitude measurement of the target and clutter, new target births are adaptively generated by the measurement-driven model, predictions are made by the target motion model and updates are performed via multidimensional measurements with the generalized likelihood in the GLMB filter, which enables the measurement information of different dimensions to be elegantly applied to information fusion and significantly improves the filter performance. The contribution of specific dimension measurement to fusion can be evaluated by the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence. In the efficient implementation, we propose flat Gibbs sampling to realize multiple hypothesis optimization. Moreover, the filtering recursion is derived from Gaussian mixtures. Simulations are presented to verify the proposed method.

MKT J170456.2–482100: the first transient discovered by MeerKAT

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of the first transient with MeerKAT, MKT J170456.2–482100, discovered in ThunderKAT images of the low-mass X-ray binary GX339–4. MKT J170456.2–482100 is variable in the radio, reaching a maximum flux density of $0.71\pm 0.11\, \mathrm{mJy}$ on 2019 October 12, and is undetected in 15 out of 48 ThunderKAT epochs. MKT J170456.2–482100 is coincident with the chromospherically active K-type sub-giant TYC 8332-2529-1, and $\sim 18\, \mathrm{yr}$ of archival optical photometry of the star shows that it varies with a period of $21.25\pm 0.04\, \mathrm{d}$. The shape and phase of the optical light curve changes over time, and we detect both X-ray and UV emission at the position of MKT J170456.2–482100, which may indicate that TYC 8332-2529-1 has large star spots. Spectroscopic analysis shows that TYC 8332-2529-1 is in a binary, and has a line-of-sight radial velocity amplitude of $43\, \mathrm{km\, s^{-1}}$. We also observe a spectral feature in antiphase with the K-type sub-giant, with a line-of-sight radial velocity amplitude of $\sim 12\pm 10\, \mathrm{km\, s^{-1}}$, whose origins cannot currently be explained. Further observations and investigation are required to determine the nature of the MKT J170456.2–482100 system.

PULSATIONAL ACTIVITY OF THE SMALL–AMPLITUDE CEPHEID POLARIS (α UMi) IN 2018-2019

We present the results of an analysis of 20 spectra of α UMi (Polaris) obtained in September 2018 – January 2019 using 0.81m telescope of the Three College Observatory (TCO), North Carolina, USA. Frequency analysis displays an increase of the pulsational period up to 3.68 min in comparison to the August - December 2017 - January - May 2018 observational sets, and it come to 3.973216 days. The systemic velocity (γ – velocity) is equal to −11.75 kms −1 . The radial velocity amplitude rose to 3.50 kms −1 and actually returned to the previous values of 3.43, 3.31, and 3.81 kms −1 , respectively, found from the August - December 2016, January - March 2017 and August - December 2017 sets. The radial velocity’s amplitude growth tendency still remains. The average T eff = 6051±22 K shows a growth toward the value found from the 2005 – 2007 observational sets and probably has a tendency toward the T eff growth. The joint TCO and Hermes radial velocity measurements during the last four years show the changes of Polaris’ pulsational amplitude.