Coordinated X-Ray and Optical Observations of Star-Planet Interaction in HD 17156

Journal
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
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Piotto, Giampaolo
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DOI
Description
A.M. and the GAPS project team acknowledge support from the “Progetti Premiali” funding scheme of the Italian Ministry of Education, University, and Research. I.P. acknowledges support from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007–2013, under the grant agreement No. 267251 “Astronomy Fellowships in Italy” (AstroFIt). Facilities: XMM-Newton (EPIC) , TNG (HARPS-N) .
Abstract
The large number of close-in Jupiter-size exoplanets prompts the question whether star-planet interaction (SPI) effects can be detected. We focused our attention on the system HD 17156, having a Jupiter-mass planet in a very eccentric orbit. Here we present results of the XMM-Newton observations and of a five month coordinated optical campaign with the HARPS-N spectrograph. We observed HD 17156 with XMM-Newton when the planet was approaching the apoastron and then at the following periastron passage, quasi-simultaneously with HARPS-N. We obtained a clear (≈ 5.5σ ) X-ray detection only at the periastron visit, accompanied by a significant increase of the R'_HK chromospheric index. We discuss two possible scenarios for the activity enhancement: magnetic reconnection and flaring or accretion onto the star of material tidally stripped from the planet. In any case, this is possibly the first evidence of a magnetic SPI effect caught in action.
Volume
811
Issue
1
Start page
L2
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0004-637X
Ads BibCode
2015ApJ...811L...2M
Rights
open.access
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