The L 98-59 System: Three Transiting, Terrestrial-Size Planets Orbiting A Nearby M Dwarf

We report the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) discovery of three terrestrial-size planets transiting L 98-59 (TOI-175, TIC 307210830)—a bright M dwarf at a distance of 10.6 pc. Using the Gaia-measured distance and broadband photometry, we find that the host star is an M3 dwarf. Combined with the TESS transits from three sectors, the corresponding stellar parameters yield planet radii ranging from 0.8 R⊕ to 1.6 R⊕. All three planets have short orbital periods, ranging from 2.25 to 7.45 days with the outer pair just wide of a 2:1 period resonance. Diagnostic tests produced by the TESS Data Validation Report and the vetting package DAVE rule out common false-positive sources. These analyses, along with dedicated follow-up and the multiplicity of the system, lend confidence that the observed signals are caused by planets transiting L 98-59 and are not associated with other sources in the field. The L 98-59 system is interesting for a number of reasons: the host star is bright (V = 11.7 mag, K = 7.1 mag) and the planets are prime targets for further follow-up observations including precision radial-velocity mass measurements and future transit spectroscopy with the James Webb Space Telescope; the near-resonant configuration makes the system a laboratory to study planetary system dynamical evolution; and three planets of relatively similar size in the same system present an opportunity to study terrestrial planets where other variables (age, metallicity, etc.) can be held constant. L 98-59 will be observed in four more TESS sectors, which will provide a wealth of information on the three currently known planets and have the potential to reveal additional planets in the system

π ELECTRON DELOCALIZATION IN POLY-(p-PHENYLENE) ( PPP), POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE (PPS) AND POLYPHENYLENE OXIDE ( PPO) AND AsF5 DOPING OF PPP

Les largeurs des bandes π dans le poly-(p-phénylène), le sulfure de polyphénylène et l'oxyde de polyphénylène sont déterminées par les expériences de pertes d'énergie d'électrons. Une estimation de la charge sur les atomes de carbone dans des environnements différents est déduite des mesures du déplacement du seuil d'absorption K du carbone. Deux niveaux à l'intérieur du gap ont été détectés dans le polyparaphénylène dopé par AsF5. Ce résultat est en accord avec un modèle bipolaron pour la conductibilité.The relative widths of π bands in poly-(p-phenylene), polyphenylene sulfide and polyphenylene oxide are deduced from electron energy loss experiments. From measuremnts of the chemical shift of the carbon K absorption edge, the charge on carbon atoms in different coordination is estimated. In AsF5 doped poly-(p-phenylene) two states inside the gap have been seen, consistent with a bipolaron model for the conductivity

Intercalation of graphite and hexagonal boron nitride by lithium

Although graphite and hexagonal form of BN (h-BN) are isoelectronic and have very similar lattice structures, it has been very difficult to intercalate h-BN while there are hundreds of intercalation compounds of graphite. We have done a comparative first principles investigation of lithium intercalation of graphite and hexagonal boron nitride to provide clues for the difficulty of h-BN intercalation. In particular lattice structure, cohesive energy, formation enthalpy, charge transfer and electronic structure of both intercalation compounds are calculated in the density functional theory framework with local density approximation to the exchange-correlation energy. The calculated formation enthalpy of the considered forms of Li intercalated h-BN is found to be positive which rules out h-BN intercalation without externally supplied energy. Also, the Li(BN)3 form of Li-intercalated h-BN is found to have a large electronic density of states at the Fermi level and an interlayer state that crosses Fermi level at the zone center; these properties make it an interesting material to investigate the role of interlayer states in the superconductivity of alkali intercalated layered structures. The most pronounced change in the charge distribution of the intercalated compounds is found to be charge transfer from the planar σ states to the π states