scholarly journals The stellar variability noise floor for transiting exoplanet photometry with PLATO

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (4) ◽  
pp. 5489-5498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett M Morris ◽  
Monica G Bobra ◽  
Eric Agol ◽  
Yu Jin Lee ◽  
Suzanne L Hawley
Keyword(s):  
Impact Parameter ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Depth Measurement ◽  
Stellar Oscillations ◽  
Mission Duration ◽  
Intensity Images ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
In Transit ◽  
Limb Darkening ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT One of the main science motivations for the ESA PLAnetary Transit and Oscillations (PLATO) mission is to measure exoplanet transit radii with 3 per cent precision. In addition to flares and starspots, stellar oscillations and granulation will enforce fundamental noise floors for transiting exoplanet radius measurements. We simulate light curves of Earth-sized exoplanets transiting continuum intensity images of the Sun taken by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) instrument aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to investigate the uncertainties introduced on the exoplanet radius measurements by stellar granulation and oscillations. After modelling the solar variability with a Gaussian process, we find that the amplitude of solar oscillations and granulation is of order 100 ppm – similar to the depth of an Earth transit – and introduces a fractional uncertainty on the depth of transit of 0.73 per cent assuming four transits are observed over the mission duration. However, when we translate the depth measurement into a radius measurement of the planet, we find a much larger radius uncertainty of 3.6 per cent. This is due to a degeneracy between the transit radius ratio, the limb darkening, and the impact parameter caused by the inability to constrain the transit impact parameter in the presence of stellar variability. We find that surface brightness inhomogeneity due to photospheric granulation contributes a lower limit of only 2 ppm to the photometry in-transit. The radius uncertainty due to granulation and oscillations, combined with the degeneracy with the transit impact parameter, accounts for a significant fraction of the error budget of the PLATO mission, before detector or observational noise is introduced to the light curve. If it is possible to constrain the impact parameter or to obtain follow-up observations at longer wavelengths where limb darkening is less significant, this may enable higher precision radius measurements.

scholarly journals The impact of a stealth CME on the Martian topside ionosphere

2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (1) ◽  
pp. 625-632
Author(s):  
Smitha V Thampi ◽  
C Krishnaprasad ◽  
Govind G Nampoothiri ◽  
Tarun K Pant
Keyword(s):  
Field Measurements ◽  
Topside Ionosphere ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Solar Cycles ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Mars Atmosphere ◽  
Phase Measurements ◽  
Ion Escape ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Solar cycle 24 is one of the weakest solar cycles recorded, but surprisingly the declining phase of it had a slow coronal mass ejection (CME) that evolved without any low coronal signature and is classified as a stealth CME that was responsible for an intense geomagnetic storm at Earth (Dst = −176 nT). The impact of this space weather event on the terrestrial ionosphere has been reported. However, the propagation of this CME beyond 1 au and the impact of this CME on other planetary environments have not been studied so far. In this paper, we analyse the data from the Sun–Earth L1 point and from the Martian orbit (near 1.5 au) to understand the characteristics of the stealth CME as observed beyond 1 au. The observations near Earth are using data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite located at L1 point, whereas those near Mars are from the instruments for plasma and magnetic field measurements onboard Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission. The observations show that the stealth CME has reached 1.5 au after 7 d of its initial observations at the Sun and caused depletion in the nightside topside ionosphere of Mars, as observed during the inbound phase measurements of the Langmuir Probe and Waves (LPW) instrument onboard MAVEN. These observations have implications on the ion escape rates from the Martian upper atmosphere.

scholarly journals Correcting the effect of stellar spots on ARIEL transmission spectra II. The limb darkening effect

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Cracchiolo ◽  
G Micela ◽  
G Morello ◽  
G Peres
Keyword(s):  
Impact Parameter ◽  
Transmission Spectrum ◽  
Stellar Disk ◽  
Transmission Spectra ◽  
Potential Bias ◽  
Temperature Contrast ◽  
Planetary Transmission ◽  
Limb Darkening ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This paper is part of an effort to correct the transmission spectra of a transiting planet orbiting an active star. In Paper I (Cracchiolo et al. 2020) we have demonstrated a methodology to minimize the potential bias induced by unocculted star spots on the transmission spectrum, assuming a spot model parameterized by filling factor and temperature. In this work we introduce the limb darkening effect, therefore the position of the spot in the stellar disk and the impact parameter of the transiting planet now play a key role. The method is tested on simulations of planetary transits of three representative kinds of planetary systems, at ARIEL resolution. We find that a realistic treatment of the limb darkening is required to reliably estimate both the spots parameters and the transmission spectrum of the transiting planet. Furthermore, we show that the influence of the spots on the retrieval of the planetary transmission spectrum is significant for spots close to the center of the star, covering a fraction greater than 0.05 and with a temperature contrast greater than 500 K, and that for these cases our method can confidently extract the transmission spectrum and the impact parameter of the transiting planet for both cases of occulted and not occulted spots, provided that we have an accurate characterization of the stellar parameters and a reliable simulator of the instrument performances.

scholarly journals Analytic solutions to the maximum and average exoplanet transit depth for common stellar limb darkening laws

2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A137 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Heller
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Impact Parameter ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Analytic Solutions ◽  
Radius Ratio ◽  
Average Intensity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Impact Parameters ◽  
In Transit ◽  
Limb Darkening

Context. The depth of an exoplanetary transit in the light curve of a distant star is commonly approximated as the squared planet-to-star radius ratio, (Rp/Rs)2. Stellar limb darkening, however, can result in significantly deeper transits. An analytic solution would be worthwhile to illustrate the principles of the problem and predict the actual transit signal required for the planning of transit observations with certain signal-to-noise requirements without the need of computer-based transit simulations. Aims. We calculate the overshoot of the mid-transit depth caused by stellar limb darkening compared to the (Rp/Rs)2 estimate for arbitrary transit impact parameters. In turn, this allows us to compute the true planet-to-star radius ratio from the transit depth for a given parameterization of a limb darkening law and for a known transit impact parameter. Methods. We compute the maximum emerging specific stellar intensity covered by the planet in transit and derive analytic solutions for the transit depth overshoot. Solutions are presented for the linear, quadratic, square-root, logarithmic, and nonlinear stellar limb darkening with arbitrary transit impact parameters. We also derive formulae to calculate the average intensity along the transit chord, which allows us to estimate the actual transit depth (and therefore Rp∕Rs) from the mean in-transit flux. Results. The transit depth overshoot of exoplanets compared to the (Rp/Rs)2 estimate increases from about 15% for main-sequence stars of spectral type A to roughly 20% for sun-like stars and some 30% for K and M stars. The error in our analytical solutions for Rp∕Rs from the small planet approximation is orders of magnitude smaller than the uncertainties arising from typical noise in real light curves and from the uncertain limb darkening. Conclusions. Our equations can be used to predict with high accuracy the expected transit depth of extrasolar planets. The actual planet radius can be calculated from the measured transit depth or from the mean in-transit flux if the stellar limb darkening can be properly parameterized and if the transit impact parameter is known. Light curve fitting is not required.

scholarly journals Role of the impact parameter in exoplanet transmission spectroscopy

2020 ◽  
Vol 640 ◽  
pp. A134
Author(s):  
X. Alexoudi ◽  
M. Mallonn ◽  
E. Keles ◽  
K. Poppenhäger ◽  
C. von Essen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Impact Parameter ◽  
Transmission Spectrum ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Transmission Spectra ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Transmission Spectroscopy ◽  
Limb Darkening ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Error Envelope

Context. Transmission spectroscopy is a promising tool for the atmospheric characterization of transiting exoplanets. Because the planetary signal is faint, discrepancies have been reported regarding individual targets. Aims. We investigate the dependence of the estimated transmission spectrum on deviations of the orbital parameters of the star-planet system that are due to the limb-darkening effects of the host star. We describe how the uncertainty on the orbital parameters translates into an uncertainty on the planetary spectral slope. Methods. We created synthetic transit light curves in seven different wavelength bands, from the near-ultraviolet to the near-infrared, and fit them with transit models parameterized by fixed deviating values of the impact parameter b. First, we performed a qualitative study to illustrate the effect by presenting the changes in the transmission spectrum slope with different deviations of b. Then, we quantified these variations by creating an error envelope (for centrally transiting, off-center, and grazing systems) based on a derived typical uncertainty on b from the literature. Finally, we compared the variations in the transmission spectra for different spectral types of host stars. Results. Our simulations show a wavelength-dependent offset that is more pronounced at the blue wavelengths where the limb-darkening effect is stronger. This offset introduces a slope in the planetary transmission spectrum that becomes steeper with increasing b values. Variations of b by positive or negative values within its uncertainty interval introduce positive or negative slopes, thus the formation of an error envelope. The amplitude from blue optical to near-infrared wavelength for a typical uncertainty on b corresponds to one atmospheric pressure scale height and more. This impact parameter degeneracy is confirmed for different host types; K stars present prominently steeper slopes, while M stars indicate features at the blue wavelengths. Conclusions. We demonstrate that transmission spectra can be hard to interpret, basically because of the limitations in defining a precise impact parameter value for a transiting exoplanet. This consequently limits a characterization of its atmosphere.

scholarly journals Thomson Scattering in the Lower Corona in the Presence of Sunspots

2021 ◽  
Vol 923 (2) ◽  
pp. 276
Author(s):  
Pascal Saint-Hilaire ◽  
Juan Carlos Martínez Oliveros ◽  
Hugh S. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Scattered Light ◽  
Solar Limb ◽  
Thomson Scattering ◽  
Full Description ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Magnetic Image ◽  
Lower Corona ◽  
Polarization Component ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
Limb Darkening

Abstract Polarized scattered light from low (few tens of megameter altitudes) coronal transients has been recently reported in Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Image (HMI) observations. In a classic paper, Minnaert (1930) provided an analytic theory of polarization via electron scattering in the corona. His work assumed axisymmetric input from the photosphere with a single-parameter limb-darkening function. This diagnostic has recently been used to estimate the free-electron number and mass of HMI transients near the solar limb, but it applies equally well to any coronal material, at any height. Here we extend his work numerically to incorporate sunspots, which can strongly effect the polarization properties of the scattered light in the low corona. Sunspot effects are explored first for axisymmetric model cases, and then applied to the full description of two sunspot groups as observed by HMI. We find that (1) as previously reported by Minnaert, limb darkening has a strong influence, usually increasing the level of linear polarization tangential to the limb; (2) unsurprisingly, the effects of the sunspot generally increase at the lower scatterer altitudes, and increase the larger the sunspot is and the closer to their center the scatterer subpoint is; (3) assuming the Stokes Q > 0 basis to be tangential to the limb, sunspots typically decrease the Stokes Q/I polarization and the perceived electron densities below the spotless case, sometimes dramatically; and (4) typically, a sizeable non-zero Stokes U/I polarization component will appear when a sunspot’s influence becomes non-negligible. However, that is not true in rare cases of extreme symmetry (e.g., scattering mass at the center of an axisymmetric sunspot). The tools developed here are generally applicable to an arbitrary image input.

Observations for the Role of Flux rope Eruption in a Geoeffective Solar Flare

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 555-564
Author(s):  
A.M Aslam
Keyword(s):  
Solar Flare ◽  
Flux Rope ◽  
Magnetic Configuration ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Multi Wavelength ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
Halo Coronal Mass Ejection ◽  
Mass Ejection ◽  
The Waves

On September 24, 2011 a solar flare of M 7.1 class was released from the Sun. The flare was observed by most of the space and ground based observatories in various wavebands. We have carried out a study of this flare to understand its causes on Sun and impact on earth. The flare was released from NOAA active region AR 11302 at 12:33 UT. Although the region had already produced many M class flares and one X- class flare before this flare, the magnetic configuration was not relaxed and still continued to evolve as seen from HMI observations. From the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) multi-wavelength (131 Ã…, 171 Ã…, 304 Ã… and 1600Ã…) observations we identified that a rapidly rising flux rope triggered the flare although HMI observations revealed that magnetic configuration did not undergo a much pronounced change. The flare was associated with a halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) as recorded by LASCO/SOHO Observations. The flare associated CME was effective in causing an intense geomagnetic storm with minimum Dst index -103 nT. A radio burst of type II was also recorded by the WAVES/WIND. In the present study attempt is made to study the nature of coupling between solar transients and geospace.

scholarly journals A note on the relations between elastic and inelastic interactions and increasing ratio σel(s)/σtot(s) at the LHC

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (32) ◽  
pp. 1950259 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Troshin ◽  
N. E. Tyurin
Keyword(s):  
Elastic Scattering ◽  
Energy Dependence ◽  
Impact Parameter ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Parameter Dependence ◽  
Slope Parameter ◽  
Short Notice ◽  
Inelastic Interactions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mode A

We comment briefly on relations between the elastic and inelastic cross-sections valid for the shadow and reflective modes of the elastic scattering. Those are based on the unitarity arguments. It is shown that the redistribution of the probabilities of the elastic and inelastic interactions (the form of the inelastic overlap function becomes peripheral) under the reflective scattering mode can lead to increasing ratio of [Formula: see text] at the LHC energies. In the shadow scattering mode, the mechanism of this increase is a different one, since the impact parameter dependence of the inelastic interactions probability is central in this mode. A short notice is also given on the slope parameter and the leading contributions to its energy dependence in both modes.

scholarly journals The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

1984 ◽  
Vol 86 ◽  
pp. 155-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Noci
Keyword(s):  
Solar Physics ◽  
Grazing Incidence ◽  
Spectral Irradiance ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Solar Constant ◽  
Heliospheric Observatory ◽  
Explorer Mission ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
Euv Spectrum

In the past years several space missions have been proposed for the study of the Sun and of the Heliosphere. These missions were intended to clarify various different aspects of solar physics. For example, the GRIST (Grazing Incidence Solar Telescope) mission was intended as a means to improve our knowledge of the upper transition region and low corona through the detection of the solar EUV spectrum with a spatial resolution larger than in previous missions; the DISCO (Dual Spectral Irradiance and Solar Constant Orbiter) and SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) missions were proposed to gat observational data about the solar oscillations better than those obtained from ground based instruments; the SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) mission was initially proposed to combine the properties of GRIST with the study of the extended corona (up to several radii of heliocentric distance) by observing the scattered Ly-alpha and OVI radiation, which was also the basis of the SCE (Solar Corona Explorer) mission proposal; the development of the interest about the variability of the Sun, both in itself and for its consequences in the history of the Earth, led to propose observations of the solar constant (included in DISCO).

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMPOUND MULTIPLICITY IN HIGH-ENERGY NUCLEUS–NUCLEUS INTERACTIONS

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (08) ◽  
pp. 1735-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. MOHERY ◽  
M. ARAFA
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Impact Parameter ◽  
Mass Number ◽  
Multiplicity Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Projectile Nucleus ◽  
Target Mass ◽  
Compound Multiplicity ◽  
Multiplicity Distributions ◽  
The Impact

The present paper deals with the interactions of 22 Ne and 28 Si nuclei at (4.1–4.5)A GeV /c with emulsion. Some characteristics of the compound multiplicity nc given by the sum of the number of shower particles ns and grey particles ng have been investigated. The present experimental data are compared with the corresponding ones calculated according to modified cascade evaporation model (MCEM). The results reveal that the compound multiplicity distributions for these two reactions are consistent with the corresponding ones of MCEM data. It can also be seen that the peak of these distributions shifts towards a higher value of nc with increasing projectile mass. It may further be seen that the compound multiplicity distributions becomes broader with increasing target size and its width increases with the size of the projectile nucleus. In addition, it has been found that the MCEM can describe the compound multiplicity characteristics of the different projectile, target and the correlation between different emitted particles. The values of average compound multiplicity increase with increasing mass of the projectile. Furthermore, it is observed that while the value of 〈nc〉 depends on the mass number of the projectile Ap and the target mass number At, the value of the ratio 〈nc〉/D(nc) seems to be independent of Ap and At. The impact parameter is found to affect the shape of the compound multiplicity distribution. Finally, the dependence of the average compound multiplicity on the numbers of grey and black particles, and the sum of them, is obvious. The values of the slope have been found to be independent of the projectile nucleus.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document