Radio-loud Exoplanet-exomoon Survey: GMRT Search for Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission

We conducted the first dedicated search for signatures of exoplanet–exomoon interactions using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) as part of the radio-loud exoplanet-exomoon survey. Due to stellar tidal heating, irradiation, and subsequent atmospheric escape, candidate “exo-Io” systems are e...

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Main Authors: Mayank Narang, Apurva V. Oza, Kaustubh Hakim, P. Manoj, Ravinder K. Banyal, Daniel P. Thorngren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2022-01-01
Series:The Astronomical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ac9eb8
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author Mayank Narang
Apurva V. Oza
Kaustubh Hakim
P. Manoj
Ravinder K. Banyal
Daniel P. Thorngren
author_facet Mayank Narang
Apurva V. Oza
Kaustubh Hakim
P. Manoj
Ravinder K. Banyal
Daniel P. Thorngren
author_sort Mayank Narang
collection DOAJ
description We conducted the first dedicated search for signatures of exoplanet–exomoon interactions using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) as part of the radio-loud exoplanet-exomoon survey. Due to stellar tidal heating, irradiation, and subsequent atmospheric escape, candidate “exo-Io” systems are expected to emit up to 10 ^6 times more plasma flux than the Jupiter-Io DC circuit. This can induce detectable radio emission from the exoplanet-exomoon system. We analyze three “exo-Io” candidate stars: WASP-49, HAT-P 12, and HD 189733. We perform 12 hr phase-curve observations of WASP-49b at 400 MHz during primary & secondary transit, as well as first & third quadratures achieving a 3 σ upper limit of 0.18 mJy beam ^−1 averaged over four days. HAT-P 12 was observed with GMRT at 150 and 325 MHz. We further analyzed the archival data of HD 189733 at 325 MHz. No emission was detected from the three systems. However, we place strong upper limits on radio flux density. Given that most exo-Io candidates orbit hot Saturns, we encourage more multiwavelength searches (in particular low frequencies) to span the lower range of exoplanet B-field strengths constrained here.
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spelling doaj.art-305349d8868f4a3c890d9f321430c8872023-09-03T13:07:52ZengIOP PublishingThe Astronomical Journal1538-38812022-01-011651110.3847/1538-3881/ac9eb8Radio-loud Exoplanet-exomoon Survey: GMRT Search for Electron Cyclotron Maser EmissionMayank Narang0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0554-1151Apurva V. Oza1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1655-0715Kaustubh Hakim2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4815-2874P. Manoj3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3530-304XRavinder K. Banyal4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0799-969XDaniel P. Thorngren5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5113-8558Tata Institute of Fundamental Research , Mumbai, India; Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics , 11F of Astro-Math Bldg., No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, Republic of ChinaJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, USA; Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern , Bern, SwitzerlandUniversity of Bern , Center for Space and Habitability, Bern, SwitzerlandTata Institute of Fundamental Research , Mumbai, IndiaIndian Institute of Astrophysics , Bangalore, IndiaUniversité de Montréal , Quebec, CanadaWe conducted the first dedicated search for signatures of exoplanet–exomoon interactions using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) as part of the radio-loud exoplanet-exomoon survey. Due to stellar tidal heating, irradiation, and subsequent atmospheric escape, candidate “exo-Io” systems are expected to emit up to 10 ^6 times more plasma flux than the Jupiter-Io DC circuit. This can induce detectable radio emission from the exoplanet-exomoon system. We analyze three “exo-Io” candidate stars: WASP-49, HAT-P 12, and HD 189733. We perform 12 hr phase-curve observations of WASP-49b at 400 MHz during primary & secondary transit, as well as first & third quadratures achieving a 3 σ upper limit of 0.18 mJy beam ^−1 averaged over four days. HAT-P 12 was observed with GMRT at 150 and 325 MHz. We further analyzed the archival data of HD 189733 at 325 MHz. No emission was detected from the three systems. However, we place strong upper limits on radio flux density. Given that most exo-Io candidates orbit hot Saturns, we encourage more multiwavelength searches (in particular low frequencies) to span the lower range of exoplanet B-field strengths constrained here.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ac9eb8Natural satellites (Extrasolar)Radio continuum emissionExoplanetsStar-planet interactions
spellingShingle Mayank Narang
Apurva V. Oza
Kaustubh Hakim
P. Manoj
Ravinder K. Banyal
Daniel P. Thorngren
Radio-loud Exoplanet-exomoon Survey: GMRT Search for Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission
The Astronomical Journal
Natural satellites (Extrasolar)
Radio continuum emission
Exoplanets
Star-planet interactions
title Radio-loud Exoplanet-exomoon Survey: GMRT Search for Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission
title_full Radio-loud Exoplanet-exomoon Survey: GMRT Search for Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission
title_fullStr Radio-loud Exoplanet-exomoon Survey: GMRT Search for Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission
title_full_unstemmed Radio-loud Exoplanet-exomoon Survey: GMRT Search for Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission
title_short Radio-loud Exoplanet-exomoon Survey: GMRT Search for Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission
title_sort radio loud exoplanet exomoon survey gmrt search for electron cyclotron maser emission
topic Natural satellites (Extrasolar)
Radio continuum emission
Exoplanets
Star-planet interactions
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ac9eb8
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