High-precision multi-wavelength eclipse photometry of the ultra-hot gas giant exoplanet WASP-103 b

TL;DR

This study presents detailed multi-wavelength eclipse and transit observations of the ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-103 b, revealing its atmospheric properties and anomalies in emission and transmission spectra that challenge current models.

Contribution

It provides the first combined analysis of extensive multi-wavelength data, including new observations, to characterize the atmosphere of WASP-103 b and identify unexpected spectral features.

Findings

Detection of thermal emission in z' and K_S bands with high significance.

Identification of an unusual transmission spectrum profile with a minimum around 700 nm.

Observation of an excess flux in the K_S band requiring further confirmation.

Abstract

We present sixteen occultation and three transit light curves for the ultra-short period hot Jupiter WASP-103 b, in addition to five new radial velocity measurements. We combine these observations with archival data and perform a global analysis of the resulting extensive dataset, accounting for the contamination from a nearby star. We detect the thermal emission of the planet in both the $z'$ and $K_{\mathrm{S}}$-bands, the measured occultation depths being 699$\pm$110 ppm (6.4-$\sigma$) and $3567_{-350}^{+400}$ ppm (10.2-$\sigma$), respectively. We use these two measurements together with recently published HST/WFC3 data to derive joint constraints on the properties of WASP-103 b's dayside atmosphere. On one hand, we find that the $z'$-band and WFC3 data are best fit by an isothermal atmosphere at 2900 K or an atmosphere with a low H$_2$O abundance. On the other hand, we find an unexpected excess in the $K_{\mathrm{S}}$-band measured flux compared to these models, which requires confirmation with additional observations before any interpretation can be given. From our global data analysis, we also derive a broad-band optical transmission spectrum that shows a minimum around 700 nm and increasing values towards both shorter and longer wavelengths. This is in agreement with a previous study based on a large fraction of the archival transit light curves used in our analysis. The unusual profile of this transmission spectrum is poorly matched by theoretical spectra and is not confirmed by more recent observations at higher spectral resolution. Additional data, both in emission and transmission, are required to better constrain the atmospheric properties of WASP-103 b.