400 research outputs found
Observations of Mass Loss from the Transiting Exoplanet HD 209458b
Using the new Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the {\it Hubble Space
Telescope (HST)}, we obtained moderate-resolution, high signal/noise
ultraviolet spectra of HD 209458 and its exoplanet HD 209458b during transit,
both orbital quadratures, and secondary eclipse. We compare transit spectra
with spectra obtained at non-transit phases to identify spectral features due
to the exoplanet's expanding atmosphere. We find that the mean flux decreased
by % for the C II 1334.5323\AA\ and 1335.6854\AA\ lines and by
% for the Si III 1206.500\AA\ line during transit compared to
non-transit times in the velocity interval --50 to +50 km s. Comparison
of the C II and Si III line depths and transit/non-transit line ratios shows
deeper absorption features near --10 and +15 km s and less certain
features near --40 and +30--70 km s, but future observations are needed
to verify this first detection of velocity structure in the expanding
atmosphere of an exoplanet. Our results for the C II lines and the
non-detection of Si IV 1394.76\AA\ absorption are in agreement with
\citet{Vidal-Madjar2004}, but we find absorption during transit in the Si III
line contrary to the earlier result. The % obscuration of the star
during transit is far larger than the 1.5% obscuration by the exoplanet's disk.
Absorption during transit at velocities between --50 and +50 km s in the
C II and Si III lines requires high-velocity ion absorbers, but models that
assume that the absorbers are high-temperature thermal ions are inconsistent
with the COS spectra. Assuming hydrodynamic model values for the gas
temperature and outflow velocity at the limb of the outflow as seen in the C II
lines, we find mass-loss rates in the range (8--40) g s.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figures, Astrophysical Journal in pres
Doppler follow-up of OGLE transiting companions in the Galactic bulge
Two years ago, the OGLE-III survey (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment)
announced the detection of 54 short period multi-transiting objects in the
Galactic bulge (Udalski et al., 2002a, 2002b). Some of these objects were
considered to be potential hot Jupiters. In order to determine the true nature
of these objects and to characterize their actual mass, we conducted a radial
velocity follow-up of 18 of the smallest transiting candidates. We describe
here our procedure and report the characterization of 8 low mass star
transiting companions, 2 grazing eclipsing binaries, 2 triple systems, 1
confirmed exoplanet (OGLE-TR-56b), 1 possible exoplanet (OGLE-TR-10b), 1 clear
false positive and 3 unsolved cases. The variety of cases encountered in our
follow-up covers a large part of the possible scenarii occuring in the search
for planetary transits. As a by-product, our program yields precise masses and
radii of low mass stars.Comment: accepted in A&
Could we identify hot Ocean-Planets with CoRoT, Kepler and Doppler velocimetry?
Planets less massive than about 10 MEarth are expected to have no massive
H-He atmosphere and a cometary composition (50% rocks, 50% water, by mass)
provided they formed beyond the snowline of protoplanetary disks. Due to inward
migration, such planets could be found at any distance between their formation
site and the star. If migration stops within the habitable zone, this will
produce a new kind of planets, called Ocean-Planets. Ocean-planets typically
consist in a silicate core, surrounded by a thick ice mantle, itself covered by
a 100 km deep ocean. The existence of ocean-planets raises important
astrobiological questions: Can life originate on such body, in the absence of
continent and ocean-silicate interfaces? What would be the nature of the
atmosphere and the geochemical cycles ?
In this work, we address the fate of Hot Ocean-Planets produced when
migration ends at a closer distance. In this case the liquid/gas interface can
disappear, and the hot H2O envelope is made of a supercritical fluid. Although
we do not expect these bodies to harbor life, their detection and
identification as water-rich planets would give us insight as to the abundance
of hot and, by extrapolation, cool Ocean-Planets.Comment: 47 pages, 6 Fugures, regular paper. Submitted to Icaru
Estimation of the XUV radiation onto close planets and their evaporation
Context: The current distribution of planet mass vs. incident stellar X-ray
flux supports the idea that photoevaporation of the atmosphere may take place
in close-in planets. Integrated effects have to be accounted for. A proper
calculation of the mass loss rate due to photoevaporation requires to estimate
the total irradiation from the whole XUV range. Aims: The purpose of this paper
is to extend the analysis of the photoevaporation in planetary atmospheres from
the accessible X-rays to the mostly unobserved EUV range by using the coronal
models of stars to calculate the EUV contribution to the stellar spectra. The
mass evolution of planets can be traced assuming that thermal losses dominate
the mass loss of their atmospheres. Methods: We determine coronal models for 82
stars with exoplanets that have X-ray observations available. Then a synthetic
spectrum is produced for the whole XUV range (~1-912 {\AA}). The determination
of the EUV stellar flux, calibrated with real EUV data, allows us to calculate
the accumulated effects of the XUV irradiation on the planet atmosphere with
time, as well as the mass evolution for planets with known density. Results: We
calibrate for the first time a relation of the EUV luminosity with stellar age
valid for late-type stars. In a sample of 109 exoplanets, few planets with
masses larger than ~1.5 Mj receive high XUV flux, suggesting that intense
photoevaporation takes place in a short period of time, as previously found in
X-rays. The scenario is also consistent with the observed distribution of
planet masses with density. The accumulated effects of photoevaporation over
time indicate that HD 209458b may have lost 0.2 Mj since an age of 20 Myr.
Conclusions: Coronal radiation produces rapid photoevaporation of the
atmospheres of planets close to young late-type stars. More complex models are
needed to explain fully the observations.Comment: Accepted by A&A. 10 pages, 8 figures, 7 Tables (2 online). Additional
online material includes 7 pages, 6 figures and 6 tables, all include
Clínica jurídica, una forma de aprendizaje-servicio para la protección de Derechos humanos
[spa] El artículo explica los primeros pasos dados en el desarrollo del proyecto "Clínica jurídica: una forma de aprendizaje-servicio para la protección de derechos humanos" en la Universidad de Valladolid, cuyo principal objetivo consiste en la formación de juristas socialmente comprometidos.[eng] The paper explains the first steps given on the development of the Project “Clínica jurídica: una forma de aprendizaje-servicio para la protección de derechos humanos“ at the University of Valladolid which main aim would be a social engaged lawyers training
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Identification of Novel Type 2 Diabetes Candidate Genes Involved in the Crosstalk between the Mitochondrial and the Insulin Signaling Systems
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a highly prevalent chronic metabolic disease with strong co-morbidity with obesity and cardiovascular diseases. There is growing evidence supporting the notion that a crosstalk between mitochondria and the insulin signaling cascade could be involved in the etiology of T2D and insulin resistance. In this study we investigated the molecular basis of this crosstalk by using systems biology approaches. We combined, filtered, and interrogated different types of functional interaction data, such as direct protein–protein interactions, co-expression analyses, and metabolic and signaling dependencies. As a result, we constructed the mitochondria-insulin (MITIN) network, which highlights 286 genes as candidate functional linkers between these two systems. The results of internal gene expression analysis of three independent experimental models of mitochondria and insulin signaling perturbations further support the connecting roles of these genes. In addition, we further assessed whether these genes are involved in the etiology of T2D using the genome-wide association study meta-analysis from the DIAGRAM consortium, involving 8,130 T2D cases and 38,987 controls. We found modest enrichment of genes associated with T2D amongst our linker genes (p = 0.0549), including three already validated T2D SNPs and 15 additional SNPs, which, when combined, were collectively associated to increased fasting glucose levels according to MAGIC genome wide meta-analysis (p = 8.12×10−5). This study highlights the potential of combining systems biology, experimental, and genome-wide association data mining for identifying novel genes and related variants that increase vulnerability to complex diseases
Callous-unemotional traits, low cortisol reactivity and physical aggression in children: findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study
Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are thought to confer risk for aggression via reduced amygdala responsivity to distress cues in others. Low cortisol reactivity is thought to confer risk for aggression via reduced arousal and this effect may be confined to boys. We tested the hypothesis that the association between childhood CU traits and aggression would be greatest in the absence of the inhibitory effects of cortisol reactivity, and that this effect would be sex dependent. Participants were 283 members of a stratified subsample within an epidemiological longitudinal cohort (WCHADS). Cortisol reactivity to a social stressor was assessed at 5 years. CU traits were reported by mothers at 5 years, and physical aggression by mothers and teachers at age 7. Results showed that CU traits were associated with elevated aggression at 7 years controlling for earlier aggression. There was no main effect of cortisol reactivity on regression. The association between CU traits and aggression was moderated by cortisol reactivity (p = .011) with a strong association between CU traits and aggression in the presence of low reactivity, and a small and non-significant association in the presence of high reactivity. This association was further moderated by child sex (p = .041) with the joint effect of high CU traits and low cortisol reactivity seen only in boys (p = .016). We report first evidence that a combined deficit in inhibitory processes associated with CU traits and low cortisol reactivity increases risk for childhood aggression, in a sex-dependent manner
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