The high-energy radiation environment of the habitable-zone super-Earth LHS 1140b

Spinelli, R.R.SpinelliBORSA, FrancescoFrancescoBORSAGHIRLANDA, GiancarloGiancarloGHIRLANDAGHISELLINI, GabrieleGabrieleGHISELLINICAMPANA, SergioSergioCAMPANAHaardt, F.F.HaardtPORETTI, EnnioEnnioPORETTI2020-12-222020-12-2220190004-6361http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12386/29070Context. In the last few years many exoplanets in the habitable zone (HZ) of M-dwarfs have been discovered, but the X-ray/UV activity of cool stars is very different from that of our Sun. The high-energy radiation environment influences the habitability, plays a crucial role for abiogenesis, and impacts the chemistry and evolution of planetary atmospheres. LHS 1140b is one of the most interesting exoplanets discovered. It is a super-Earth-size planet orbiting in the HZ of LHS 1140, an M4.5 dwarf at 15 parsecs. Aims: In this work, we present the results of the analysis of a Swift X-ray/UV observing campaign. We characterize for the first time the X-ray/UV radiation environment of LHS 1140b. Methods: We measure the variability of the near ultraviolet (NUV) flux and estimate the far ultraviolet (FUV) flux with a correlation between FUV1344-1786Å and NUV1771-2831Å flux obtained using the sample of low-mass stars in the GALEX archive. We highlight the presence of a dominating X-ray source close to the J2000 coordinates of LHS 1140, characterize its spectrum, and derive an X-ray flux upper limit for LHS 1140. We find that this contaminant source could have influenced the previously estimated spectral energy distribution. Results: No significant variation of the NUV1771-2831Å flux of LHS 1140 is found over 3 months, and we do not observe any flare during the 38 ks on the target. LHS 1140 is in the 25th percentile of least variable M4-M5 dwarfs of the GALEX sample. Analyzing the UV flux experienced by the HZ planet LHS 1140b, we find that outside the atmosphere it receives a NUV1771-2831Å flux <2% with respect to that of the present-day Earth, while the FUV1344-1786Å/NUV1771-2831Å ratio is 100-200 times higher. This represents a lower limit to the true FUV/NUV ratio since the FUV1344-1786Å band does not include Lyman-alpha, which dominates the FUV output of low-mass stars. This is a warning for future searches for biomarkers, which must take into account this high ratio. Conclusions: The relatively low level and stability of UV flux experienced by LHS 1140b should be favorable for its present-day habitability.STAMPAenThe high-energy radiation environment of the habitable-zone super-Earth LHS 1140bArticle10.1051/0004-6361/2019356362-s2.0-85069453237000475288900001https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2019/07/aa35636-19/aa35636-19.html2019A&A...627A.144SFIS/05 - ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICAERC sectors::Physical Sciences and Engineering::PE9 Universe sciences: astro-physics/chemistry/biology; solar systems; stellar, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, planetary systems, cosmology, space science, instrumentation::PE9_6 Stars and stellar systems