Observational evidence for a metal rich atmosphere on the super-Earth GJ1214b

Details Observational evidence for a metal rich atmosphere on the super-Earth GJ1214b Observational evidence for a metal rich atmosphere on the super-Earth GJ1214b

2011-03-11

arxiv.org/abs/1103.2370v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Accepted for publication in ApJL. 13 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

Scientific paper

We report observations of two consecutive transits of the warm super-Earth exoplanet GJ1214b at 3.6 and 4.5 microns with the Infrared Array Camera instrument on-board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The two transit light curves allow for the determination of the transit parameters for this system. We find these paremeters to be consistent with the previously determined values and no evidence for transit timing variations. The main investigation consists of measuring the transit depths in each bandpass to constrain the planet's transmission spectrum. Fixing the system scale and impact parameters, we measure R_p/R_star=0.1176 (+0.0008/-0.0009) and 0.1163 (+0.0010/-0.0008) at 3.6 and 4.5 microns, respectively. Combining these data with the previously reported MEarth Observatory measurements in the red optical yields constraints on the GJ1214b's transmission spectrum and allows us to rule-out a cloud-free, solar composition (i.e., hydrogen-dominated) atmosphere at 4.5 sigma confidence. This independently confirms a recent finding that was based on a measurement of the planet's transmission spectrum using the VLT. The Spitzer, MEarth, and VLT observations together yield a remarkably flat transmission spectrum over the large wavelength domain spanned by the data. Consequently, cloud-free atmospheric models require more than 30% metals (assumed to be in the form of H2O by volume to be consistent with all the observations.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Observational evidence for a metal rich atmosphere on the super-Earth GJ1214b does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Observational evidence for a metal rich atmosphere on the super-Earth GJ1214b, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Observational evidence for a metal rich atmosphere on the super-Earth GJ1214b will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-278065