Photo-dynamical characterisation of the TOI-178 resonant chain

Author(s)
, A. Leleu, J. B. Delisle, L. Delrez, E. M. Bryant, A. Brandeker, H. P. Osborn, N. Hara, T. G. Wilson, N. Billot, M. Lendl, D. Ehrenreich, H. Chakraborty, M. N. Günther, M. J. Hooton, Y. Alibert, R. Alonso, D. R. Alves, D. R. Anderson, I. Apergis, D. Armstrong, T. Bárczy, D. Barrado Navascues, S. C.C. Barros, M. P. Battley, W. Baumjohann, D. Bayliss, T. Beck, W. Benz, L. Borsato, C. Broeg, M. R. Burleigh, S. L. Casewell, A. Collier Cameron, A. C.M. Correia, Sz Csizmadia, P. E. Cubillos, M. B. Davies, M. Deleuil, A. Deline, O. D.S. Demangeon, B. O. Demory, A. Derekas, B. Edwards, A. Erikson, A. Fortier, L. Fossati, M. Güdel, R. Ottensamer, S. Saha, A. E. Simon
Abstract

Context. The TOI-178 system consists of a nearby, late-K-dwarf with six transiting planets in the super-Earth to mini-Neptune regime, with radii ranging from ∼1.1 to 2.9 R⊕ and orbital periods between 1.9 and 20.7 days. All the planets, but the innermost one, form a chain of Laplace resonances. The fine-tuning and fragility of such orbital configurations ensure that no significant scattering or collision event has taken place since the formation and migration of the planets in the protoplanetary disc, thereby providing important anchors for planet formation models. Aims. We aim to improve the characterisation of the architecture of this key system and, in particular, the masses and radii of its planets. In addition, since this system is one of the few resonant chains that can be characterised by both photometry and radial velocities, we propose to use it as a test bench for the robustness of the planetary mass determination with each technique. Methods. We performed a global analysis of all the available photometry from CHEOPS, TESS and NGTS, and radial velocity from ESPRESSO, using a photo-dynamical modelling of the light curve.We also tried different sets of priors on the masses and eccentricity, as well as different stellar activity models, to study their effects on the masses estimated by transit-timing variations (TTVs) and radial velocities (RVs). Results. We demonstrate how stellar activity prevents a robust mass estimation for the three outer planets using radial velocity data alone.We also show that our joint photo-dynamical and radial velocity analysis has resulted in a robust mass determination for planets c to g, with precision of ∼12% for the mass of planet c, and better than 10% for planets d to g. The new precisions on the radii range from 2 to 3%. The understanding of this synergy between photometric and radial velocity measurements will be valuable for the PLATO mission. We also show that TOI-178 is indeed currently locked in the resonant configuration, librating around an equilibrium of the chain.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Université de Genève, Universität Bern, Université de Liège, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, University College London, Stockholm University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Warwick, Science and Operations Department - Science Division (SCI-SC), University of Cambridge, Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Católica del Norte, Admatis Ltd., European Space Astronomy Centre (ESA), Universidade do Porto, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW), Osservatorio Astronomico, University of Leicester, University of St. Andrews, Universidade de Coimbra, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Lund University, Aix-Marseille Université, Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Instituto de Estudios Astrofísicos, Universidad Diego Portales
Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume
688
No. of pages
21
ISSN
0004-6361
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450212
Publication date
08-2024
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics, 103038 Space exploration
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/580d619b-5f2f-4b93-a0be-e9ac29a1f4a8