The Optical and near-Infrared Transmission Spectrum of the Super-Earth Gj1214b: Further Evidence for a Metal-Rich Atmosphere
Name
Seager_The optical and near.pdf
Size
1.82 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
6519563a28761a8e14b999c71e0adba4
Author(s)
Bean, Jacob L.
Desert, Jean-Michel
Kabath, Petr
Stalder, Brian
Seager, Sara
Kempton, Eliza Miller-Ricci
Berta-Thompson, Zach
Homeier, Derek
Walsh, Shane
Seifahrt, Andreas
Date Issued
November 2011
Journal
Astrophysical Journal
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Citation
Bean, Jacob L. et al. “THE OPTICAL AND NEAR-INFRARED TRANSMISSION SPECTRUM OF THE SUPER-EARTH GJ 1214b: FURTHER EVIDENCE FOR A METAL-RICH ATMOSPHERE.” The Astrophysical Journal 743.1 (2011): 92. © 2011 IOP Publishing
Version
Final published version
Abstract
We present an investigation of the transmission spectrum of the 6.5 M [subscript ⊕] planet GJ 1214b based on new ground-based observations of transits of the planet in the optical and near-infrared, and on previously published data. Observations with the VLT + FORS and Magellan + MMIRS using the technique of multi-object spectroscopy with wide slits yielded new measurements of the planet's transmission spectrum from 0.61 to 0.85 μm, and in the J, H, and K atmospheric windows. We also present a new measurement based on narrow-band photometry centered at 2.09 μm with the VLT + HAWKI. We combined these data with results from a reanalysis of previously published FORS data from 0.78 to 1.00 μm using an improved data reduction algorithm, and previously reported values based on Spitzer data at 3.6 and 4.5 μm. All of the data are consistent with a featureless transmission spectrum for the planet. Our K-band data are inconsistent with the detection of spectral features at these wavelengths reported by Croll and collaborators at the level of 4.1σ. The planet's atmosphere must either have at least 70% H[subscript 2]O by mass or optically thick high-altitude clouds or haze to be consistent with the data.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/743/1/92
