Time-resolved rotational velocities in the upper atmosphere of WASP-33 b

TL;DR

This study presents the first detection of Balmer lines in WASP-33 b's atmosphere, revealing rotational velocities and wind patterns that enhance understanding of ultra-hot Jupiter atmospheric dynamics.

Contribution

It provides the first measurement of atmospheric rotational velocities and wind signatures in an ultra-hot Jupiter using high signal-to-noise, time-resolved transmission spectra.

Findings

Detected Balmer lines Hα and Hβ in WASP-33 b's atmosphere.

Measured rotational velocity of approximately 10 km/s.

Identified a low-significance day-to-night wind shift.

Abstract

While steady empirical progress has been made in understanding the structure and composition of hot planet atmospheres, direct measurements of velocity signatures, including winds, rotation, and jets, have lagged behind. Quantifying atmospheric dynamics of hot planets is critical to a complete understanding of their atmospheres and such measurements may even illuminate other planetary properties, such as magnetic field strengths. In this manuscript we present the first detection of the Balmer lines H$\alpha$ and H$\beta$ in the atmosphere of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-33 b. Using atmospheric models which include the effects of atmospheric dynamics, we show that the shape of the average Balmer line transmission spectrum is consistent with rotational velocities in the planet's thermosphere of $v_\text{rot} = 10.1^{+0.8}_{-1.0}$ km s$^{-1}$. We also measure a low-significance day-to-night side velocity shift of $-4.6^{+3.4}_{-3.4}$ km s$^{-1}$ in the transmission spectrum which is naturally explained by a global wind across the planet's terminator. In a separate analysis the time-resolved velocity centroids of individual transmission spectra show unambiguous evidence of rotation, with a best-fit velocity of $10.0^{+2.4}_{-2.0}$ km s$^{-1}$, consistent with the value of $v_\text{rot}$ derived from the shape of the average Balmer line transmission spectrum. Our observations and analysis confirm the power of high signal-to-noise, time-resolved transmission spectra to measure the velocity structures in exoplanet atmospheres. The large rotational and wind velocities we measure highlight the need for more detailed 3D global climate simulations of the rarefied upper-atmospheres of ultra-hot gas giants.