Nearly Polar orbit of the sub-Neptune HD3167 c: Constraints on a multi-planet system dynamical history [EPA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1906.11013


We present the obliquity measurement i.e. the angle between the normal of the planet orbital plane and stellar spin axis of the sub-Neptune planet HD3167 c that transits a bright, nearby K0 star. New observations obtained with HARPS-N at Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) are employed for our analysis. We study the orbital architecture of this multi-planet system to understand its dynamical history. We also put constraints on the obliquity of planet d from the geometry of the planetary system and the dynamical study of the system. The sky-projected obliquity is measured using three different methods, i.e Rossiter-McLaughlin anomaly, Doppler tomography and Reloaded Rossiter-McLaughlin techniques. We perform the stability analysis of the system and investigate the dynamical interactions between the planets and star. HD3167 c is found to be nearly polar with sky-projected obliquity, $\lambda$ = -98$^{\circ} \pm$23$^{\circ}$. This misalignment of the orbit of planet c with the spin axis of the host star is detected with 97% confidence. The analysis of the dynamics of this system yields coplanar orbits of planets c and d. It also shows that it is unlikely that the currently observed system can, by itself, generate such a large obliquity for planets c and d. However, the polar orbits of planets c and d could be explained by the presence of an outer companion in the system. Follow-up observations of the system are required to confirm such a long period companion.

Read this paper on arXiv…

S. Dalal, G. Hébrard, A. Étangs, et. al.
Thu, 27 Jun 19
32/62

Comments: 13 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in A&A