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Title: A Reanalysis of the Composition of K2-106b: An Ultra-short-period Super-Mercury Candidate
We present a reanalysis of the K2-106 transiting planetary system, with a focus on the composition of K2-106b, an ultra-short-period, super-Mercury candidate. We globally model existing photometric and radial velocity data and derive a planetary mass and radius for K2-106b of Mp = 8.53 ± 1.02 M⊕ and = - + Rp 1.71 0.057 RÅ 0.069 , which leads to a density of r = - + 9.4 p 1.5 1.6 g cm−3 , a significantly lower value than previously reported in the literature. We use planet interior models that assume a two-layer planet comprised of a liquid, pure Fe core and an iron-free, MgSiO3 mantle, and we determine that the range of the core mass fractions are consistent with the observed mass and radius. We use existing high-resolution spectra of the host star to derive the Fe/Mg/Si abundances ([Fe/ H] = −0.03 ± 0.01, [Mg/H] = 0.04 ± 0.02, [Si/H] = 0.03 ± 0.06) to infer the composition of K2-106b. We find that K2-106b has a density and core mass fraction ( - + 44 %15 12 ) consistent with that of Earth (CMF⊕ = 32%). Furthermore, its composition is consistent with what is expected, assuming that it reflects the relative refractory abundances of its host star. K2-106b is therefore unlikely to be a super-Mercury, as has been suggested in previous literature.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2143400
PAR ID:
10488688
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
AAS Journals
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Astronomical Journal
Volume:
165
Issue:
3
ISSN:
0004-6256
Page Range / eLocation ID:
97
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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