Fast and Precise Light Curve Model for Transiting Exoplanets with Rings

TL;DR

This paper introduces a fast, high-precision light curve model for transiting exoplanets with rings, incorporating detailed ring geometry, transparency, and star limb darkening, facilitating future ring detection efforts.

Contribution

The Polygon+Segments model is a novel, efficient method that accurately models exoplanetary rings and can be generalized to various convex shapes in transit scenarios.

Findings

Model achieves high precision in ring light curve simulations.

Computational efficiency surpasses existing techniques.

Open-source Python implementation available.

Abstract

The presence of silicate material in known rings in the Solar System raises the possibility of ring systems existing even within the snow line -- where most transiting exoplanets are found. Previous studies have shown that the detection of exoplanetary rings in transit light curves is possible, albeit challenging. To aid such future detection of exoplanetary rings, we present the Polygon+Segments model for modelling the light curve of an exoplanet with rings. This high-precision model includes full ring geometry as well as possible ring transparency and the host star's limb darkening. It is also computationally efficient, requiring just a 1D integration over a small range, making it faster than existing techniques. The algorithm at its core is further generalized to compute the light curve of any set of convex primitive shapes in transit ({\it e.g.} multiple planets, oblate planets, moons, rings, combination thereof, etc.) while accounting for their overlaps. The python source code is made available.