scholarly journals The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs

2019 ◽  
Vol 632 ◽  
pp. A24
Author(s):  
B. Fuhrmeister ◽  
S. Czesla ◽  
L. Hildebrandt ◽  
E. Nagel ◽  
J. H. M. M. Schmitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Line Formation ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Complex Behaviour ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Solar Type ◽  
M Dwarf ◽  
Calar Alto ◽  
Important Activity

The He I infrared (IR) triplet at 10 830 Å is an important activity indicator for the Sun and in solar-type stars, however, it has rarely been studied in relation to M dwarfs to date. In this study, we use the time-averaged spectra of 319 single stars with spectral types ranging from M0.0 V to M9.0 V obtained with the CARMENES high resolution optical and near-infrared spectrograph at Calar Alto to study the properties of the He I IR triplet lines. In quiescence, we find the triplet in absorption with a decrease of the measured pseudo equivalent width (pEW) towards later sub-types. For stars later than M5.0 V, the He I triplet becomes undetectable in our study. This dependence on effective temperature may be related to a change in chromospheric conditions along the M dwarf sequence. When an emission in the triplet is observed, we attribute it to flaring. The absence of emission during quiescence is consistent with line formation by photo-ionisation and recombination, while flare emission may be caused by collisions within dense material. The He I triplet tends to increase in depth according to increasing activity levels, ultimately becoming filled in; however, we do not find a correlation between the pEW(He IR) and X-ray properties. This behaviour may be attributed to the absence of very inactive stars (LX∕Lbol < −5.5) in our sample or to the complex behaviour with regard to increasing depth and filling in.

scholarly journals GJ 357 b

2020 ◽  
Vol 641 ◽  
pp. A113
Author(s):  
D. Modirrousta-Galian ◽  
B. Stelzer ◽  
E. Magaudda ◽  
J. Maldonado ◽  
M. Güdel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Systematic Errors ◽  
Small Mass ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
X Ray ◽  
History Of ◽  
Age Relations ◽  
M Dwarf ◽  
Atmospheric Mass

Aims. In this paper we present a deep X-ray observation of the nearby M dwarf GJ 357 and use it to put constraints on the atmospheric evolution of its planet, GJ 357 b. We also analyse the systematic errors in the stellar parameters of GJ 357 in order to see how they affect the perceived planetary properties. Methods. By comparing the observed X-ray luminosity of its host star, we estimate the age of GJ 357 b as derived from a recent XMM-Newton observation (log Lx [erg s−1] = 25.73), with Lx− age relations for M dwarfs. We find that GJ 357 presents one of the lowest X-ray activity levels ever measured for an M dwarf, and we put a lower limit on its age of 5 Gyr. Using this age limit, we performed a backwards reconstruction of the original primordial atmospheric reservoir. Furthermore, by considering the systematic errors in the stellar parameters, we find a range of possible planetary masses, radii, and densities. Results. From the backwards reconstruction of the irradiation history of GJ 357 b’s we find that the upper limit of its initial primordial atmospheric mass is ~38 M⊕. An initial atmospheric reservoir significantly larger than this may have survived through the X-ray and ultraviolet irradiation history, which would not be consistent with current observations that suggest a telluric composition. However, given the relatively small mass of GJ 357 b, even accreting a primordial envelope ≳10 M⊕ would have been improbable as an unusually low protoplanetary disc opacity, large-scale migration, and a weak interior luminosity would have been required. For this reason, we discard the possibility that GJ 357 b was born as a Neptunian- or Jovian-sized body. In spite of the unlikelihood of a currently existing primordial envelope, volcanism and outgassing may have contributed to a secondary atmosphere. Under this assumption, we present three different synthetic IR spectra for GJ 357 b that one might expect, consisting of 100% CO2, 100% SO2, and 75% N2, 24% CO2 and 1% H2O, respectively. Future observations with space-based IR spectroscopy missions will be able to test these models. Finally, we show that the uncertainties in the stellar and planetary quantities do not have a significant effect on the estimated mass or radius of GJ 357 b.

scholarly journals The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs

2020 ◽  
Vol 640 ◽  
pp. A52
Author(s):  
B. Fuhrmeister ◽  
S. Czesla ◽  
L. Hildebrandt ◽  
E. Nagel ◽  
J. H. M. M. Schmitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet ◽  
High Energy ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Dwarf Stars ◽  
Transmission Spectroscopy ◽  
Solar Type ◽  
Energy Irradiation ◽  
Planetary Transmission ◽  
M Dwarf Stars

The He I infrared (IR) triplet at 10 830 Å is known as an activity indicator in solar-type stars and has become a primary diagnostic in exoplanetary transmission spectroscopy. He I IR lines are a tracer of the stellar extreme-ultraviolet irradiation from the transition region and corona. We study the variability of the He I triplet lines in a spectral time series of 319 M dwarf stars that was obtained with the CARMENES high-resolution optical and near-infrared spectrograph at Calar Alto. We detect He I IR line variability in 18% of our sample stars, all of which show Hα in emission. Therefore, we find detectable He I variability in 78% of the sub-sample of stars with Hα emission. Detectable variability is strongly concentrated in the latest spectral sub-types, where the He I lines during quiescence are typically weak. The fraction of stars with detectable He I variation remains lower than 10% for stars earlier than M3.0 V, while it exceeds 30% for the later spectral sub-types. Flares are accompanied by particularly pronounced line variations, including strongly broadened lines with red and blue asymmetries. However, we also find evidence for enhanced He I absorption, which is potentially associated with increased high-energy irradiation levels at flare onset. Generally, He I and Hα line variations tend to be correlated, with Hα being the most sensitive indicator in terms of pseudo-equivalent width variation. This makes the He I triplet a favourable target for planetary transmission spectroscopy.

scholarly journals The Near Infrared FeH Lines as Indicators of Surface Gravity of M stars

1996 ◽  
Vol 171 ◽  
pp. 441-441
Author(s):  
Ricardo Piorno Schiavon ◽  
Beatriz Barbuy
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Population Synthesis ◽  
Atmospheric Parameters ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Synthetic Spectra ◽  
Iron Hydride ◽  
M Stars ◽  
M Dwarf ◽  
Ongoing Project

We compute synthetic spectra in the region around 1 μm, including the Wing-Ford band (WFB) of Iron Hydride (FeH) in the calculations. This band is known to be a good indicator of surface gravities of M stars. Employing Kurucz model atmospheres, we study the response of the intensity of the WFB to atmospheric parameters and check our results against observations of M dwarfs. This study is part of an ongoing project which aims to investigate the M dwarf-to-giant ratio in galaxies, through a population synthesis method, exploring a number of spectral indicators in the near infrared, such as the WFB, the NaI, CaII and CO near infrared features.

scholarly journals Diving Beneath the Sea of Stellar Activity: Chromatic Radial Velocities of the Young AU Mic Planetary System

2021 ◽  
Vol 162 (6) ◽  
pp. 295
Author(s):  
Bryson L. Cale ◽  
Michael Reefe ◽  
Peter Plavchan ◽  
Angelle Tanner ◽  
Eric Gaidos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Wavelength Dependence ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Echelle Spectrograph ◽  
Stellar Activity ◽  
Transiting Planets ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Modeling Toolkit ◽  
M Dwarf

Abstract We present updated radial-velocity (RV) analyses of the AU Mic system. AU Mic is a young (22 Myr) early-M dwarf known to host two transiting planets—P b ∼ 8.46 days, R b = 4.38 − 0.18 + 0.18 R ⊕ , P c ∼ 18.86 days, R c = 3.51 − 0.16 + 0.16 R ⊕ . With visible RVs from Calar Alto high-Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exo-earths with Near-infrared and optical echelle Spectrographs (CARMENES)-VIS, CHIRON, HARPS, HIRES, Minerva-Australis, and Tillinghast Reflector Echelle Spectrograph, as well as near-infrared (NIR) RVs from CARMENES-NIR, CSHELL, IRD, iSHELL, NIRSPEC, and SPIRou, we provide a 5σ upper limit to the mass of AU Mic c of M c ≤ 20.13 M ⊕ and present a refined mass of AU Mic b of M b = 20.12 − 1.57 + 1.72 M ⊕ . Used in our analyses is a new RV modeling toolkit to exploit the wavelength dependence of stellar activity present in our RVs via wavelength-dependent Gaussian processes. By obtaining near-simultaneous visible and near-infrared RVs, we also compute the temporal evolution of RV “color” and introduce a regressional method to aid in isolating Keplerian from stellar activity signals when modeling RVs in future works. Using a multiwavelength Gaussian process model, we demonstrate the ability to recover injected planets at 5σ significance with semi-amplitudes down to ≈10 m s−1 with a known ephemeris, more than an order of magnitude below the stellar activity amplitude. However, we find that the accuracy of the recovered semi-amplitudes is ∼50% for such signals with our model.

scholarly journals Kinematics of M dwarfs in the CARMENES Input Catalogue: Membership in Young Moving Groups

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (S314) ◽  
pp. 71-72
Author(s):  
D. Montes ◽  
J. A. Caballero ◽  
I. Gallardo ◽  
M. Cortés-Contreras ◽  
F. J. Alonso-Floriano
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Distance Estimation ◽  
Age Dating ◽  
Velocity Measurements ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Dating Methods ◽  
Moving Groups ◽  
Input Catalogue ◽  
Photometric Distance ◽  
Calar Alto

AbstractWe present a detailed study of the kinematics of M dwarfs in the CARMENES (Calar Alto high-Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exoearths with Near-infrared and optical Échelle Spectrographs) input catalog. We have selected all M dwarfs with known parallactic distance or a good photometric distance estimation, precise proper motion in the literature or as determined by us, and radial velocity measurements. Using these parameters, we computed the M dwarfs galactic space motions (U, V, W). For the stars with U and V velocity components inside or near the boundaries that determine the young disk population, we have analyzed the possible membership in the classical moving groups and nearby loose associations with ages between 10 and 600 Myr. For the candidate members, we have compiled information available in the literature in order to constrain their membership by applying other age-dating methods.

scholarly journals New disk discovered with VLT/SPHERE around the M star GSC 07396−00759

2018 ◽  
Vol 613 ◽  
pp. L6 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Sissa ◽  
J. Olofsson ◽  
A. Vigan ◽  
J. C. Augereau ◽  
V. D’Orazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Scattered Light ◽  
Debris Disks ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Infrared Excess ◽  
Asymmetric Structures ◽  
High Resolution Imagery ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Dust Dynamics ◽  
M Dwarf

Debris disks are usually detected through the infrared excess over the photospheric level of their host star. The most favorable stars for disk detection are those with spectral types between A and K, while the statistics for debris disks detected around low-mass M-type stars is very low, either because they are rare or because they are more difficult to detect. Terrestrial planets, on the other hand, may be common around M-type stars. Here, we report on the discovery of an extended (likely) debris disk around the M-dwarf GSC 07396−00759. The star is a wide companion of the close accreting binary V4046 Sgr. The system probably is a member of the β Pictoris Moving Group. We resolve the disk in scattered light, exploiting high-contrast, high-resolution imagery with the two near-infrared subsystems of the VLT/SPHERE instrument, operating in the Y J bands and the H2H3 doublet. The disk is clearly detected up to 1.5′′ (~110 au) from the star and appears as a ring, with an inclination i ~ 83°, and a peak density position at ~70 au. The spatial extension of the disk suggests that the dust dynamics is affected by a strong stellar wind, showing similarities with the AU Mic system that has also been resolved with SPHERE. The images show faint asymmetric structures at the widest separation in the northwest side. We also set an upper limit for the presence of giant planets to 2 MJ. Finally, we note that the 2 resolved disks around M-type stars of 30 such stars observed with SPHERE are viewed close to edge-on, suggesting that a significant population of debris disks around M dwarfs could remain undetected because of an unfavorable orientation.

scholarly journals The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A115
Author(s):  
D. Hintz ◽  
B. Fuhrmeister ◽  
S. Czesla ◽  
J. H. M. M. Schmitt ◽  
A. Schweitzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Field ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Dwarf Stars ◽  
Solar Type ◽  
Model Set ◽  
M Dwarf Stars ◽  
First Time ◽  
M Dwarf ◽  
Different Levels

The He I infrared (IR) line at a vacuum wavelength of 10 833 Å is a diagnostic for the investigation of atmospheres of stars and planets orbiting them. For the first time, we study the behavior of the He I IR line in a set of chromospheric models for M-dwarf stars, whose much denser chromospheres may favor collisions for the level population over photoionization and recombination, which are believed to be dominant in solar-type stars. For this purpose, we use published PHOENIX models for stars of spectral types M2 V and M3 V and also compute new series of models with different levels of activity following an ansatz developed for the case of the Sun. We perform a detailed analysis of the behavior of the He I IR line within these models. We evaluate the line in relation to other chromospheric lines and also the influence of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation field. The analysis of the He I IR line strengths as a function of the respective EUV radiation field strengths suggests that the mechanism of photoionization and recombination is necessary to form the line for inactive models, while collisions start to play a role in our most active models. Moreover, the published model set, which is optimized in the ranges of the Na I D2, Hα, and the bluest Ca II IR triplet line, gives an adequate prediction of the He I IR line for most stars of the stellar sample. Because especially the most inactive stars with weak He I IR lines are fit worst by our models, it seems that our assumption of a 100% filling factor of a single inactive component no longer holds for these stars.

scholarly journals Evidence for magnetic activity at starbirth: a powerful X-ray flare from the Class 0 protostar HOPS 383

2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. L4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Grosso ◽  
Kenji Hamaguchi ◽  
David A. Principe ◽  
Joel H. Kastner
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Direct Proof ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Evolutionary Stage ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Solar Type ◽  
Bona Fide

Context. Class 0 protostars represent the earliest evolutionary stage of solar-type stars, during which the majority of the system mass resides in an infalling envelope of gas and dust and is not yet in the central, nascent star. Although X-rays are a key signature of magnetic activity in more evolved protostars and young stars, whether such magnetic activity is present at the Class 0 stage is still debated. Aims. We aim to detect a bona fide Class 0 protostar in X-rays. Methods. We observed HOPS 383 in 2017 December in X-rays with the Chandra X-ray Observatory (∼84 ks) and in near-infrared imaging with the Southern Astrophysical Research telescope. Results. HOPS 383 was detected in X-rays during a powerful flare. This hard (E >  2 keV) X-ray counterpart was spatially coincident with the northwest 4 cm component of HOPS 383, which would be the base of the radio thermal jet launched by HOPS 383. The flare duration was ∼3.3 h; at the peak, the X-ray luminosity reached ∼4 × 1031 erg s−1 in the 2−8 keV energy band, a level at least an order of magnitude larger than that of the undetected quiescent emission from HOPS 383. The X-ray flare spectrum is highly absorbed (NH ∼ 7 × 1023 cm−2), and it displays a 6.4 keV emission line with an equivalent width of ∼1.1 keV, arising from neutral or low-ionization iron. Conclusions. The detection of a powerful X-ray flare from HOPS 383 constitutes direct proof that magnetic activity can be present at the earliest formative stages of solar-type stars.

scholarly journals The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs

2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A136 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hintz ◽  
B. Fuhrmeister ◽  
S. Czesla ◽  
J. H. M. M. Schmitt ◽  
E. N. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Variable Stars ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Linear Combinations ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Best Fit ◽  
Calar Alto ◽  
Infrared Triplet

Chromospheric modeling of observed differences in stellar activity lines is imperative to fully understand the upper atmospheres of late-type stars. We present one-dimensional parametrized chromosphere models computed with the atmosphere code PHOENIX using an underlying photosphere of 3500 K. The aim of this work is to model chromospheric lines of a sample of 50 M2–3 dwarfs observed in the framework of the CARMENES, the Calar Alto high-Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exo-earths with Near-infrared and optical Echelle Spectrographs, exoplanet survey. The spectral comparison between observed data and models is performed in the chromospheric lines of Na I D2, Hα, and the bluest Ca II infrared triplet line to obtain best-fit models for each star in the sample. We find that for inactive stars a single model with a VAL C-like temperature structure is sufficient to describe simultaneously all three lines adequately. Active stars are rather modeled by a combination of an inactive and an active model, also giving the filling factors of inactive and active regions. Moreover, the fitting of linear combinations on variable stars yields relationships between filling factors and activity states, indicating that more active phases are coupled to a larger portion of active regions on the surface of the star.

scholarly journals The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs

2018 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. A6 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. M. Passegger ◽  
A. Reiners ◽  
S. V. Jeffers ◽  
S. Wende-von Berg ◽  
P. Schöfer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Stellar Atmosphere ◽  
Stellar Atmospheres ◽  
Surface Gravity ◽  
M Dwarfs ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Target Sample ◽  
M Dwarf ◽  
The Phoenix

Context. The new CARMENES instrument comprises two high-resolution and high-stability spectrographs that are used to search for habitable planets around M dwarfs in the visible and near-infrared regime via the Doppler technique. Aims. Characterising our target sample is important for constraining the physical properties of any planetary systems that are detected. The aim of this paper is to determine the fundamental stellar parameters of the CARMENES M-dwarf target sample from high-resolution spectra observed with CARMENES. We also include several M-dwarf spectra observed with other high-resolution spectrographs, that is CAFE, FEROS, and HRS, for completeness. Methods. We used a χ2 method to derive the stellar parameters effective temperature Teff, surface gravity logg, and metallicity [Fe/H] of the target stars by fitting the most recent version of the PHOENIX-ACES models to high-resolution spectroscopic data. These stellar atmosphere models incorporate a new equation of state to describe spectral features of low-temperature stellar atmospheres. Since Teff, logg, and [Fe/H] show degeneracies, the surface gravity is determined independently using stellar evolutionary models. Results. We derive the stellar parameters for a total of 300 stars. The fits achieve very good agreement between the PHOENIX models and observed spectra. We estimate that our method provides parameters with uncertainties of σTeff = 51 K, σlog g = 0.07, and σ[Fe/H] = 0.16, and show that atmosphere models for low-mass stars have significantly improved in the last years. Our work also provides an independent test of the new PHOENIX-ACES models, and a comparison for other methods using low-resolution spectra. In particular, our effective temperatures agree well with literature values, while metallicities determined with our method exhibit a larger spread when compared to literature results.

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