KELT-1b: A Strongly Irradiated, Highly Inflated, Short Period, 27 Jupiter-mass Companion Transiting a Mid-F Star

R.J. Siverd, T.G. Beatty, J, Pepper, J.D. Eastman, K. Collins, A. Bieryla, D.W. Latham, E.N. Jensen, J.R. Crepp, R. Street, Lars C. Astrup Buchhave

153 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present the discovery of KELT-1b, the first transiting low-mass companion from the wide-field Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope-North (KELT-North) transit survey. A joint analysis of the spectroscopic, radial velocity, and photometric data indicates that the V = 10.7 primary is a mildly evolved mid-F star with T eff= 6516 ± 49 K, log g = 4.228 +0.014-0.021, and [Fe/H] = 0.052 ± 0.079, with an inferred mass M* = 1.335 ± 0.063 M and radius R* = 1.471+0.045 -0.035 R. The companion is a low-mass brown dwarf or a super-massive planet with mass MP= 27.38 ± 0.93 MJup and radius RP= 1.116+0.038-0.029RJup. The companion is on a very short (∼29 hr) period circular orbit, with an ephemeris Tc(BJDTDB) = 2455909.29280 ± 0.00023 and P = 1.217501 ± 0.000018 days. KELT-1b receives a large amount of stellar insolation, resulting in an estimated equilibrium temperature assuming zero albedo and perfect redistribution of T eq= 2423+34 -27 K. Comparison with standard evolutionary models suggests that the radius of KELT-1b is likely to be significantly inflated. Adaptive optics imaging reveals a candidate stellar companion to KELT-1 with a separation of 588 ± 1 mas, which is consistent with an M dwarf if it is at the same distance as the primary. Rossiter-McLaughlin measurements during transit imply a projected spin-orbit alignment angle λ = 2 ± 16 deg, consistent with a zero obliquity for KELT-1. Finally, the vsin I* = 56 ± 2 km s-1 of the primary is consistent at ∼2σ with tidal synchronization. Given the extreme parameters of the KELT-1 system, we expect it to provide an important testbed for theories of the emplacement and evolution of short-period companions, as well as theories of tidal dissipation and irradiated brown dwarf atmospheres.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume761
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)123
ISSN0004-637X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Dec 2012

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