2026AJ....171...81L -
Astron. J., 171, 81 (2026/February-0)
PEPSI Investigation, Retrieval, and Atlas of Numerous Giant Atmospheres (PIRANGA). II. Phase-resolved Cross-correlation Transmission Spectroscopy of KELT-20b.
LENHART C., JOHNSON M.C., WANG J., PAI ASNODKAR A., PETZ S., DUCK A., STRASSMEIER K.G. and ILYIN I.
Abstract (from CDS):
KELT-20b is a well-studied (Teq = 2262 K) ultrahot Jupiter, but its multidimensional atmospheric structure remains unconstrained. We performed high-resolution cross-correlation transmission spectroscopy (HRCCTS) on a single-transit time series of KELT-20b, observed with the Potsdam Echelle Polarimetric and Spectroscopic Instrument on the Large Binocular Telescope. Upon combining nineteen in-transit exposures, we detect Fe I (11.9σ) and Fe II (23.7σ) and tentatively detect Na I (3.4σ) and Cr I (3.3σ). The full-transit velocity offsets of the strongest absorbers are ΔVFeI = -1.0 ± 0.7 km s–1 and ΔV_Fe II_ = 0.0 ± 0.5 km s–1, which are mostly inconsistent with previously published values for KELT-20b, although the previous measurements are mostly inconsistent with each other. By correcting for discrepant systemic velocity solutions of up to 1.7 km s–1 between studies, our Fe II offset becomes consistent with previous measurements (≤1.7σ), while Fe I remains significantly less blueshifted than in earlier studies (≥2.2-4.5σ). We propose a set of detection criteria to improve future reproducibility in HRCCTS work. Phase-resolving the Fe I and Fe II absorption signatures into eight orbital phase bins reveals distinct dynamical regimes: Fe II exhibits a strong phase-dependent blueshift from ingress to egress along with significant limb asymmetry, while Fe I shows weaker signals and a more modest blueshift with phase. These patterns indicate day-to-night winds and suggest scale height differences are a significant driver of limb asymmetry in KELT-20b.
Abstract Copyright:
© 2026. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.
Journal keyword(s):
Doppler shift - Exoplanet atmospheric dynamics - High resolution spectroscopy - Exoplanet atmospheric structure - Hot Jupiters - Transmission spectroscopy
Simbad objects:
9
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