We are searching for Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) near the boundary between protostars and pre-main-sequence objects, what we term Transitional YSOs. We have identified a sample of 125 objects as candidate transitional YSOs on the basis of IRAS colors and the optical appearance on POSS plates. We have obtained optical and near-IR imaging of 82 objects accessible from the Northern Hemisphere and optical images of 62 sources accessible from the South. We also created deconvolved 60{mu}m IRAS images of all sources. We have classified the objects on the basis of their morphology in the optical and near-IR images. We find that the majority of our objects are associated with star-forming regions, confirming our expectation that the bulk of these objects are YSOs. Of the 125 objects, 28 have a variety of characteristics very similar to other transitional YSOs, while another 22 show some of these characteristics. Furthermore we have found seven objects to be good candidates for members of the Herbig Ae/Be stellar group, of which three are newly identified as such.
We have obtained millimeter-wavelength photometry, high-resolution optical spectroscopy, and adaptive optics near-infrared imaging for a sample of 26 Spitzer-selected transition circumstellar disks. All of our targets are located in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud (d~125pc) and have spectral energy distributions (SEDs) suggesting the presence of inner opacity holes. We use these ground-based data to estimate the disk mass, multiplicity, and accretion rate for each object in our sample in order to investigate the mechanisms potentially responsible for their inner holes. We find that transition disks are a heterogeneous group of objects, with disk masses ranging from <0.6 to 40M_JUP_ and accretion rates ranging from <10^-11^ to 10^-7^M_{sun}_/yr, but most tend to have much lower masses and accretion rates than "full disks" (i.e., disks without opacity holes). Eight of our targets have stellar companions: six of them are binaries and the other two are triple systems. In four cases, the stellar companions are close enough to suspect they are responsible for the inferred inner holes. We find that nine of our 26 targets have low disk mass (<2.5M_JUP_) and negligible accretion (<10^-11^M_{sun}_/yr), and are thus consistent with photoevaporating (or photoevaporated) disks. Four of these nine non-accreting objects have fractional disk luminosities <10^-3^ and could already be in a debris disk stage. Seventeen of our transition disks are accreting. Thirteen of these accreting objects are consistent with grain growth. The remaining four accreting objects have SEDs suggesting the presence of sharp inner holes, and thus are excellent candidates for harboring giant planets.
Post-AGB binaries are surrounded by massive disks of gas and dust that are similar to protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars. We assembled a catalog of all known Galactic post-AGB binaries with disks. We explore correlations between the different observables with the aim to learn more about potential disk-binary interactions. We compiled spectral energy distributions of 85 Galactic post-AGB binary systems. We built-up a color-color diagram to differentiate between the different disk morphologies traced by the characteristics of the infrared excess. We categorised different disk types and looked for correlations with other observational characteristics of these systems. 8 to 12% of our targets are surrounded by transition disks, i.e. disks having no or low near-infrared excesses. We find a strong link between these transition disks and the depletion of refractory elements seen on the surface of the post-AGB star. We interpret this correlation as evidence for the presence of a mechanism that stimulates the dust and gas separation within the disk and which also produces the transition disk structure. We propose that such a mechanism can be a giant planet carving a hole in the disk which traps the dust in the outer disk parts. We propose two disk evolutionary scenarios, depending on the presence of such a giant planet in the disk. We advocate that giant planets can successfully explain the correlation between the transition disks and the depletion of refractory materials observed in post-AGB binaries. If the planetary scenario is confirmed, disks around post-AGB binaries could be a unique laboratory to test planet-disk interactions and their influence on the late evolution of binary stars. Whether the planets are first or second generation also remains to be studied. We argue that these disks are the perfect place to study planet formation scenarios in an unprecedented parameter space.
Transition disk objects are pre-main-sequence stars with little or no near-IR excess and significant far-IR excess, implying inner opacity holes in their disks. Here we present a multifrequency study of transition disk candidates located in Lupus I, III, IV, V, VI, Corona Australis, and Scorpius. Complementing the information provided by Spitzer with adaptive optics (AO) imaging (NaCo, VLT), submillimeter photometry (APEX), and echelle spectroscopy (Magellan, Du Pont Telescopes), we estimate the multiplicity, disk mass, and accretion rate for each object in our sample in order to identify the mechanism potentially responsible for its inner hole. We find that our transition disks show a rich diversity in their spectral energy distribution morphology, have disk masses ranging from <~1 to 10M_JUP_, and accretion rates ranging from <~10^-11^ to 10^-7.7^M_{sun}_/yr. Of the 17 bona fide transition disks in our sample, three, nine, three, and two objects are consistent with giant planet formation, grain growth, photoevaporation, and debris disks, respectively. Two disks could be circumbinary, which offers tidal truncation as an alternative origin of the inner hole.
Understanding disk evolution and dissipation is essential for studies of planet formation. Transition disks, i.e., disks with large dust cavities and gaps, are promising candidates of active evolution. About two dozen candidates, selected by their Spectral Energy Distribution (SED), have been confirmed to have dust cavities through millimeter interferometric imaging, but this sample is biased toward the brightest disks. The Spitzer surveys of nearby low-mass star-forming regions have resulted in more than 4000 young stellar objects (YSOs). Using color criteria, we selected a sample of ~150 candidates and an additional 40 candidates and known transition disks from the literature. The Spitzer data were complemented by new observations at longer wavelengths, including new JCMT and APEX submillimeter photometry, and WISE and Herschel-PACS mid- and far-infrared photometry. Furthermore, optical spectroscopy was obtained and stellar types were derived for 85% of the sample, including information from the literature. The SEDs were fit to a grid of RADMC-3D disk models with a limited number of parameters: disk mass, inner disk mass, scale height and flaring, and disk cavity radius, where the latter is the main parameter of interest. About 72% of our targets possibly have dust cavities based on the SED. The derived cavity sizes are consistent with imaging/modeling results in the literature, where available. Trends are found with the L_disk_ over L_*_ ratio and stellar mass and a possible connection with exoplanet orbital radii. A comparison with a previous study where color observables are used (Cieza et al., 2010, Cat. J/ApJ/712/925) reveals large overlap between their category of planet-forming disks and our transition disks with cavities. A large number of the new transition disk candidates are suitable for follow-up observations with ALMA.
The TRAPPIST-1 planetary system provides an exceptional opportunity for the atmospheric characterization of temperate terrestrial exoplanets with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Assessing the potential impact of stellar contamination on the planets' transit transmission spectra is an essential precursor to this characterization. Planetary transits themselves can be used to scan the stellar photosphere and to constrain its heterogeneity through transit depth variations in time and wavelength. In this context, we present our analysis of 169 transits observed in the optical from space with K2 and from the ground with the SPECULOOS and Liverpool telescopes. Combining our measured transit depths with literature results gathered in the mid-/near-IR with Spitzer/IRAC and HST/WFC3, we construct the broadband transmission spectra of the TRAPPIST-1 planets over the 0.8-4.5 {mu}m spectral range. While planet b, d, and f spectra show some structures at the 200-300 ppm level, the four others are globally flat. Even if we cannot discard their instrumental origins, two scenarios seem to be favored by the data: a stellar photosphere dominated by a few high-latitude giant (cold) spots, or, alternatively, by a few small and hot (3500-4000 K) faculae. In both cases, the stellar contamination of the transit transmission spectra is expected to be less dramatic than predicted in recent papers. Nevertheless, based on our results, stellar contamination can still be of comparable or greater order than planetary atmospheric signals at certain wavelengths. Understanding and correcting the effects of stellar heterogeneity therefore appears essential for preparing for the exploration of TRAPPIST-1 with JWST.
We describe a new metric that uses machine learning to determine if a periodic signal found in a photometric time series appears to be shaped like the signature of a transiting exoplanet. This metric uses dimensionality reduction and k-nearest neighbors to determine whether a given signal is sufficiently similar to known transits in the same data set. This metric is being used by the Kepler Robovetter to determine which signals should be part of the Q1-Q17 DR24 catalog of planetary candidates. The Kepler Mission reports roughly 20000 potential transiting signals with each run of its pipeline, yet only a few thousand appear to be sufficiently transit shaped to be part of the catalog. The other signals tend to be variable stars and instrumental noise. With this metric, we are able to remove more than 90% of the non-transiting signals while retaining more than 99% of the known planet candidates. When tested with injected transits, less than 1% are lost. This metric will enable the Kepler mission and future missions looking for transiting planets to rapidly and consistently find the best planetary candidates for follow-up and cataloging.
We present the discovery of seven new planets and eight planet candidates around subgiant stars, as additions to the known sample of planets around "retired A stars". Among these are the possible first three-planet systems around subgiant stars, HD 163607 and HD 4917. Additionally, we present calculations of possible transit times, durations, depths, and probabilities for all known planets around subgiant (3<logg<4) stars, focused on possible transits during the TESS mission. While most have transit probabilities of 1%-2%, we find that there are three planets with transit probabilities >9%.
We present results of an extensive photometric search for planetary and low-luminosity object transits in the Galactic disk stars commencing the third phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment - OGLE-III.
We used VLT/VIMOS images in the V band to obtain light curves of extrasolar planetary transits OGLE-TR-111 and OGLE-TR-113, and candidate planetary transits: OGLE-TR-82, OGLE-TR-86, OGLE-TR-91, OGLE-TR-106, OGLE-TR-109, OGLE-TR-110, OGLE-TR-159, OGLE-TR-167, OGLE-TR-170, OGLE-TR-171. Using difference imaging photometry, we were able to achieve millimagnitude errors in the individual data points. We present the analysis of the data and the light curves, by measuring transit amplitudes and ephemerides, and by calculating geometrical parameters for some of the systems. We observed 9 OGLE objects at the predicted transit moments. Two other transits were shifted in time by a few hours. For another seven objects we expected to observe transits during the VIMOS run, but they were not detected. The stars OGLE-TR-111 and OGLE-TR-113 are probably the only OGLE objects in the observed sample to host planets, with the other objects being very likely eclipsing binaries or multiple systems. In this paper we also report on four new transiting candidates which we have found in the data.
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