Photo-Dynamical Analysis of Three Kepler Objects of Interest with Significant Transit Timing Variations

TL;DR

This paper uses photo-dynamical analysis of Kepler objects to detect and characterize non-transiting planets through transit timing variations, revealing diverse planetary configurations and resonances.

Contribution

It introduces a method combining transit timing variations and photo-dynamical modeling to identify and analyze multi-planet systems, including non-transiting planets.

Findings

KOI-884's outer planet is 2.6 Jupiter masses near 3:1 resonance.

KOI-319's TTVs suggest two possible planetary configurations.

KOI-227's TTVs indicate potential resonant planetary companions.

Abstract

KOI-227, KOI-319 and KOI-884 are identified here as (at least) two planet systems. For KOI-319 and KOI-884, the observed Transit Timing Variations (TTVs) of the inner transiting planet are used to detect an outer non-transiting planet. The outer planet in KOI-884 is 2.6 Jupiter masses and has the orbital period just narrow of the 3:1 resonance with the inner planet (orbital period ratio 2.93). The distribution of parameters inferred from KOI-319.01's TTVs is bimodal with either a 1.6 Neptune-mass (M_N) planet wide of the 5:3 resonance (period 80.1 d) or a 1 Saturn-mass planet wide of the 7:3 resonance (period 109.2 d). The radial velocity measurements can be used in this case to determine which of these parameter modes is correct. KOI-227.01's TTVs with large 10 hour amplitude can be obtained for planetary-mass companions in various major resonances. Based on the Bayesian evidence, the current TTV data favor the outer 2:1 resonance with a companion mass 1.5 M_N, but this solution implies a very large density of KOI-227.01. The inner and outer 3:2 resonance solutions with sub-Neptune-mass companions are physically more plausible, but will need to be verified.