Spectroscopic characterization of LOFAR radio-emitting M dwarfs
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Recent observations with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) have revealed 19 nearby M dwarfs showing bright circularly polarized radio emission. One of the possible sources of such emission is through magnetic star-planet interactions (MSPIs) with unseen close-in planets. We present the initial results from a spectroscopic survey with the Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF) and NEID spectrographs designed to characterize this sample and further investigate the origin of the radio emission. We provide four new insights into the sample. I) We uniformly characterized the stellar properties, constraining their effective temperatures ( T eff ), surface gravities (log g ), metallicities ([Fe/H]), projected rotational velocities ( v sin i ⋆ ), rotation periods ( P rot ), stellar radii ( R ⋆ ), and stellar inclinations ( i ⋆ ) where possible. Further, from a homogeneous analysis of the HPF spectra, we inferred their chromospheric activity and spectroscopic multiplicity states. From this, we identified GJ 625, GJ 1151, and LHS 2395 as single, quiescent stars amenable to precise radial velocity follow-up, making them strong MSPI candidates. II) We show that the distribution of stellar inclinations are compatible with an isotropic distribution, providing no evidence for a preference to pole-on configurations. III) We refined the radial velocity solution for GJ 625 b, the only currently known close-in planet in the sample, reducing the uncertainty in its orbital period by a factor of three, to facilitate future phase-dependent radio analysis. IV) Finally, we identified GJ 3861 as a spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of P = 14.841181 −0.00010 +0.00011 d and with a mass ratio of q = 0.7663 −0.0018 +0.0020 , making it the only confirmed binary with a relatively short orbit in the sample, where we surmise the radio emission is likely related to magnetospheric interactions between the two stars. These results advance our understanding of radio-emitting M dwarfs and establish an observational foundation for identifying MSPIs.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: E. Koo, G. Stefansson, R. D. Kavanagh, M. Delamer, S. Mahadevan, J. R. Callingham, H. Vedantham, P. Robertson, D. Bruijne, C. F. Bender, C. I. Cañas, S. Diddams, J. I. Espinoza-Retamal, R. B. Fernandes, S. Halverson, S. Kanodia, D. Krolikowski, A. S. J. Lin, B. J. S. Pope, A. Roy, C. Schwab, R. Terrien, J. T. Wright
Institutions: University of Amsterdam, Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, University of Groningen, University of California, Irvine, University of Arizona, Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado System, University of Colorado Denver, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Princeton University, Millennium Institute of Astrophysics, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Earth and Planets Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Schmidt Sciences, Carleton College, Pennsylvania State University
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,865
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, California Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, Heising-Simons Foundation, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, European Space Agency, European Commission, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, NASA Astrobiology Institute, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters, European Research Council, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Awards: G1275944909, Collaborative Research: Understanding exoplanets orbiting fully convective stars with the Habitable-zone Planet Finder, Collaborative Research: Turnkey Laser Frequency Comb for the Calibrator for the Habitable Zone Planet Finder, G2158095426, G2274405149, G2452073530, MRI: Development of the Habitable Zone Planet Finder Spectrograph for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, G2676722403, TITLE: SIGNATURES OF LIFE FROM EARTH AND BEYOND IS IN RESPONSE TO CAN #NNH08ZDA002C NASA ASTROBIOLOGY INSTITUTE - CYCLE 5 BASIC AWARD FOR CYCLE FIVE OF NAI TO PENN STATE.1260.51 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT SPECIAL CONDITION. (OCTOBER 2000) (A) THIS AWARD IS A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AS IT IS ANTICIPATED THERE WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL NASA INVOLVEMENT DURING PERFORMANCE OF THE EFFORT. NASA AND THE RECIPIENT MUTUALLY AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT OF ANTICIPATED COOPERATIVE INTERACTIONS WHICH MAY OCCUR DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS EFFORT: NAI CENTRAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES ADVOCATING THE NEEDS & SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT DISBURSING FUNDS (INCLUDING A STRATEGIC DIRECTOR S DISCRETIONARY FUND FOR HIGH-RISK/HIGH-PAYOFF RESEARCH PROJECTS AND FOR FOSTERING COLLABORATION BETWEEN MEMBERS) SPONSORING THE NAI POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM COLLECTING AND ARCHIVING INFORMATION ON RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS & PUBLICATIONS ORGANIZING FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS & EXPEDITING NETWORK CONNECTIVITY WHILE ENGINEERING THE INTERFACES BETWEEN THE SCIENTISTS & THE NETWORK. NAI CENTRAL IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING GENERAL MEETINGS WORKSHOPS & STRATEGIC RETREATS TO ENGAGE MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE IN INTEGRATED RESEARCH. NAI CENTRAL WILL IN ADDITION COORDINATE INSTITUTE-WIDE ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION & PUBLIC OUTREACH & IN THE TRAINING OF STUDENTS & OTHER YOUNG INVESTIGATORS.AT THE CORE OF ASTROBIOLOGY IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE THAT ENABLES THE RECOGNITION OF SIGNATURES OF LIFE ON EARLY EARTH IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS AND IN EXTRATERRESTRIAL SETTINGS. TOGETHER WITH NEW CO-INVESTIGATORS FROM UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES AND CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP NOVEL APPROACHES TO DETECTING AND CHARACTERIZING LIFE INVESTIGATE BIOSIGNATURES IN MISSION-RELEVANT ECOSYSTEMS AND ANCIENT ROCKS AND EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL FOR BIOSIGNATURES IN EXTRATERRESTRIAL SETTINGS.(1) DEVELOPING NEW BIOSIGNATURES THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF POTENTIAL INDICATORS OF LIFE IS ESSENTIAL FOR PROVIDING A CRITICAL SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR EXPLORATION OF LIFE IN THE COSMOS. OUR EFFORTS WILL FOCUS ON CREATING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR THE ANALYSES OF CELLS AND OTHER ORGANIC MATERIAL FINDING WAYS IN WHICH METAL ABUNDANCES AND ISOTOPE SYSTEMS REFLECT LIFE AND DEVELOPING CREATIVE APPROACHES FOR USING ENVIRONMENTAL DNA TO STUDY PRESENT AND PAST LIFE.(2) BIOSIGNATURES IN RELEVANT MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS PSARC WILL INVESTIGATE MICROBIAL LIFE IN SOME OF EARTH S MOST MISSION-RELEVANT ECOSYSTEMS THE DEAD SEA THE CHESAPEAKE IMPACT STRUCTURE THE METHANE SEEPS OF THE EEL RIVER BASIN AND THE GREENLAND GLACIER ICE.(3) BIOSIGNATURES IN ANCIENT ROCKS THE EARTH S ARCHEAN AND PROTEROZOICEONS OFFER THE BEST OPPORTUNITY OF INVESTIGATING A MICROBIAL WORLD SUCH AS MIGHT BE FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THE COSMOS. THE ANCIENT RECORD ON EARTH PROVIDES ON OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT GEOCHEMICAL SIGNATURES ARE PRODUCED BY MICROBIAL LIFE AND HOW THESE SIGNATURES ARE PRESERVED OVER GEOLOGIC TIME.(4) BIOSIGNATURES IN EXTRATERRESTRIAL SETTING. PSARC WILL INVESTIGATE THE ABUNDANCE OF SULFUR GASES AND ELUCIDATE HOW THESE GASES CAN BE EXPECTED TO EVOLVE WITH TIME ON YOUNG TERRESTRIAL PLANETS. WE WILL CONTINUE STUDIES OF PLANET FORMATION IN THE PRESENCE OF MIGRATION AND MODEL RADIAL TRANSPORT OF VOLATILES IN YOUNG PLANETARY SYSTEMS. FINAL PSARC WILL BE INVOLVED WITH SEARCHES FOR M STAR PLANETARY COMPANIONS AND PLANETS AROUND K-GIANT STARS.(B) THE TERMS ....(C) NASA S ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE ...., G2945112853, G3398851854, Collaborative Research: Understanding exoplanets orbiting fully convective stars with the Habitable-zone Planet Finder, G4008337681, G4033973077, Steps Towards Achieving Precision Radial Velocities in the NIR: Developing and Testing Techniques with a 1.75um cutoff H2RG array for a Pathfinder Instrument, Collaborative Research: Understanding exoplanets orbiting fully convective stars with the Habitable-zone Planet Finder, G417049427, Collaborative Research: Turnkey Laser Frequency Comb Calibrator for the Habiable Zone Planet Finder, G5195188938, Collaborative Research: An Agile Electro-Optic Frequency Comb for Precision Near-Infrared Radial Velocity Spectroscopy with the Habitable Zone Planet Finder, G540462668, e-MAPS (exploring magnetism on the planetary scale), G5692544728, Collaborative Research: An Agile Electro-Optic Frequency Comb for Precision Near-Infrared Radial Velocity Spectroscopy with the Habitable Zone Planet Finder, Collaborative Research: A uniform sample of Kepler eclipsing binaries as benchmark stars to constrain stellar models and evolution at the bottom of the main sequence, G7952133887, Collaborative Research: Understanding exoplanets orbiting fully convective stars with the Habitable-zone Planet Finder, G830101876, G8389910058, CENTRO DE ASTROFISICA Y TECNOLOGIAS AFINES (CATA), G9000173888, G947413342
OpenAlex ID: W4417528125