High-precision photometry of WASP-12 b transits

TL;DR

This study provides high-precision photometric measurements of WASP-12 b transits, refining system parameters, detecting potential transit timing variations, and suggesting the presence of an additional planetary body.

Contribution

The paper presents new high-precision transit data and refined system parameters, along with the first indication of transit timing variations in WASP-12 b, implying a possible additional planet.

Findings

Refined orbital and physical parameters of WASP-12 b.

Detected transit timing variation at 3.4 sigma level.

Possible presence of a terrestrial-type perturber in resonance.

Abstract

The transiting extrasolar planet WASP-12 b was found to be one of the most intensely irradiated exoplanets. It is unexpectedly bloated and is losing mass that may accrete into the host star. Our aim was to refine the parameters of this intriguing system and search for signs of transit timing variations. We gathered high-precision light curves for two transits of WASP-12 b. Assuming various limb-darkening laws, we generated best-fitting models and redetermined parameters of the system. Error estimates were derived by the prayer bead method and Monte Carlo simulations. System parameters obtained by us are found to agree with previous studies within one sigma. Use of the non-linear limb-darkening laws results in the best-fitting models. With two new mid-transit times, the ephemeris was refined to BJD(TDB)=(2454508.97682 +/- 0.00020) + (1.09142245 +/- 0.00000033) E. Interestingly, indications of transit timing variation are detected at the level of 3.4 sigma. This signal can be induced by an additional planet in the system. Simplified numerical simulations shows that a perturber could be a terrestrial-type planet if both planets are in a low-order orbital resonance. However, we emphasise that further observations are needed to confirm variation and to constrain properties of the perturber.