2024AJ....168..231S -
Astron. J., 168, 231 (2024/December-0)
An Absolute Mass, Precise Age, and Hints of Planetary Winds for WASP-121A and b from a JWST NIRSpec Phase Curve.
SING D.K., EVANS-SOMA T.M., RUSTAMKULOV Z., LOTHRINGER J.D., MAYNE N.J. and SCHLAUFMAN K.C.
Abstract (from CDS):
We have conducted a planetary radial velocity measurement of the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-121b using JWST NIRSpec phase curve data. Our analysis reveals the Doppler shift of the planetary spectral lines across the full orbit, which shifts considerably across the detector (∼10 pixels). Using cross-correlation techniques, we have determined an overall planetary velocity amplitude of Kp = 215.7 ± 1.1 km s–1, which is in good agreement with the expected value. We have also calculated the dynamical mass for both components of the system by treating it as an eclipsing double-line spectroscopic binary, with WASP-121A having a mass of M⋆ = 1.330 ± 0.019 M⊙, while WASP-121b has a mass of Mp = 1.170 ± 0.043 MJup. These dynamical measurements are ∼3× more precise than previous estimates and do not rely on any stellar modeling assumptions that have a ∼5% systematic floor mass uncertainty. Additionally, we used stellar evolution modeling constrained with a stellar density and parallax measurement to determine a precise age for the system, found to be 1.11 ± 0.14 Gyr. Finally, we observed potential velocity differences between the two NIRSpec detectors, with NRS1 lower by 5.5 ± 2.2 km s–1. We suggest that differences can arise from day/night asymmetries in the thermal emission, which can lead to a sensitivity bias favoring the illuminated side of the planet, with planetary rotation and winds both acting to lower a measured KP. The planet's rotation can account for 1 km s–1 of the observed velocity difference, with 4.5 ± 2.2 km s–1 potentially attributable to vertical differences in wind speeds.
Abstract Copyright:
© 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.
Journal keyword(s):
Radial velocity - Extrasolar gaseous planets - Astronomical techniques
VizieR on-line data:
<Available at CDS (J/AJ/168/231): fig6.dat fig7.dat>
Simbad objects:
9
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