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The sub-Jovian desert is a region in the mass-period and radius-period parameter space that typically encompasses short-period ranges between super-Earths and hot Jupiters, and exhibits an intrinsic dearth of planets. This scarcity is likely shaped by photoevaporation caused by the stellar irradiation received by giant planets that have migrated inward. We report the detection and characterization of TOI-3568 b, a transiting super-Neptune with a mass of 26.4 ± 1.0 M⊕, a radius of 5.30 ± 0.27 R⊕, a bulk density of 0.98 ± 0.15 g cm−3, and an orbital period of 4.417965 (5) d situated in the vicinity of the sub-Jovian desert. This planet orbiting a K dwarf star with solar metallicity was identified photometrically by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). It was characterized as a planet by our high-precision radial-velocity (RV) monitoring program using MAROON-X at Gemini North, supplemented with additional observations from the SPICE large program with SPIRou at CFHT. We performed a Bayesian MCMC joint analysis of the TESS and ground-based photometry, and MAROON-X and SPIRou RVs, to measure the orbit, radius, and mass of the planet, as well as a detailed analysis of the high-resolution flux and polarimetric spectra to determine the physical parameters and elemental abundances of the host star. Our results reveal TOI-3568 b to be a hot super-Neptune rich in hydrogen and helium, with a core of heavier elements of between 10 and 25 M⊕in mass. We analyzed the photoevaporation status of TOI-3568 b and find that it experiences one of the highest extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) luminosities among planets with a mass of Mp< 2 MNep, yet it has an evaporation lifetime exceeding 5 Gyr. Positioned in the transition between two significant populations of exoplanets on the mass-period and energy diagrams, this planet presents an opportunity to test theories concerning the origin of the sub-Jovian desert.
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TESS discovery of a super-Earth orbiting the M-dwarf star TOI-1680
We report the discovery by the TESS mission of a super-Earth on a 4.8-days orbit around an inactive M4.5 dwarf (TOI-1680), validated by ground-based facilities. The host star is located 37.14 pc away, with a radius of 0.2100 ± 0.0064R⊙, mass of 0.1800 ± 0.0044M⊙, and an effective temperature of 3211 ±100 K. We validated and characterized the planet using TESS data, ground-based multi-wavelength photometry from TRAPPIST, SPECULOOS, and LCO, as well as high-resolution AO observations from Keck/NIRC2 andShane.Our analyses have determined the following parameters for the planet: a radius of 1.466−0.049+0.063R⊕and an equilibrium temperature of 404 ± 14 K, assuming no albedo and perfect heat redistribution. Assuming a mass based on mass-radius relations, this planet is a promising target for atmospheric characterization with theJames WebbSpace Telescope (JWST).
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- Award ID(s):
- 1945633
- PAR ID:
- 10583450
- Author(s) / Creator(s):
- ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more »
- Publisher / Repository:
- EDP Sciences
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Astronomy & Astrophysics
- Volume:
- 677
- ISSN:
- 0004-6361
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- A31
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202347040
