Spectroscopic Characterization of HD 95086 b with the Gemini Planet Imager

De Rosa, Robert J.; Rameau, Julien; Patience, Jenny; Graham, James R.; Doyon, René; Lafrenière, David; Macintosh, Bruce; Pueyo, Laurent; Rajan, Abhijith; Wang, Jason J.; Ward-Duong, Kimberly; Hung, Li-Wei; Maire, Jérôme; Nielsen, Eric L.; Ammons, S. Mark; Bulger, Joanna; Cardwell, Andrew; Chilcote, Jeffrey K.; Galvez, Ramon L.; Gerard, Benjamin L.; Goodsell, Stephen; Hartung, Markus; Hibon, Pascale; Ingraham, Patrick; Johnson-Groh, Mara; Kalas, Paul; Konopacky, Quinn M.; Marchis, Franck; Marois, Christian; Metchev, Stanimir; Morzinski, Katie M.; Oppenheimer, Rebecca; Perrin, Marshall D.; Rantakyrö, Fredrik T.; Savransky, Dmitry; Thomas, Sandrine

Abstract

We present new H (1.5-1.8 μm) photometric and K1 (1.9-2.2 μm) spectroscopic observations of the young exoplanet HD 95086 b obtained with the Gemini Planet Imager. The H-band magnitude has been significantly improved relative to previous measurements, whereas the low resolution K1 (λ/δλ≈66) spectrum is featureless within the measurement uncertainties, and presents a monotonically increasing pseudo-continuum consistent with a cloudy atmosphere. By combining these new measurements with literature L′ photometry, we compare the spectral energy distribution of the planet to other young planetary-mass companions, field brown dwarfs, and to the predictions of grids of model atmospheres. HD 95086 b is over a magnitude redder in K1−L′ color than 2MASS J12073346-3932539 b and HR 8799 c and d, despite having a similar L′ magnitude. Considering only the near-infrared measurements, HD 95086 b is most analogous to the brown dwarfs 2MASS J2244316+204343 and 2MASS J21481633+4003594, both of which are thought to have dusty atmospheres. Morphologically, the spectral energy distribution of HD 95086 b is best fit by low temperature (Teff= 800-1300 K), low surface gravity spectra from models which simulate high photospheric dust content. This range of effective temperatures is consistent with field L/T transition objects, but the spectral type of HD 95086 b is poorly constrained between early L and late T due to its unusual position the color-magnitude diagram, demonstrating the difficulty in spectral typing young, low surface gravity substellar objects. As one of the reddest such objects, HD 95086 b represents an important empirical benchmark against which our current understanding of the atmospheric properties of young extrasolar planets can be tested.

Citation

De Rosa, R. J., Rameau, J., Patience, J., Graham, J. R., Doyon, R., Lafrenière, D., …Thomas, S. (2016). Spectroscopic Characterization of HD 95086 b with the Gemini Planet Imager. Astrophysical Journal, 824(2), 121-138. https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637x/824/2/121

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 21, 2016
• Publication Date: Jun 21, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 6, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 26, 2017
• Journal: Astrophysical Journal
• Print ISSN: 0004-637X
• Electronic ISSN: 1538-4357
• Publisher: American Astronomical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 824
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 121
• Pages: 121-138
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637x/824/2/121
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1398381