The 13O-rich atmosphere of a young accreting super-Jupiter

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of a highly enriched 13C isotope ratio in the atmosphere of a young, accreting super-Jupiter, offering new insights into planetary formation and isotopic fractionation processes.

Contribution

First detection of 13CO in a young exoplanet's atmosphere, revealing significant 13C enrichment and implications for planet formation theories.

Findings

12CO/13CO ratio of 31 [+17,-10] indicating 13C enrichment

Planet likely accreted carbon from ices enriched in 13C

Supports isotope fractionation during planet formation

Abstract

Isotope abundance ratios play an important role in astronomy and planetary sciences, providing insights in the origin and evolution of the Solar System, interstellar chemistry, and stellar nucleosynthesis. In contrast to deuterium/hydrogen ratios, carbon isotope ratios are found to be roughly constant (~89) in the Solar System, but do vary on galactic scales with 12C/13C~68 in the current local interstellar medium. In molecular clouds and protoplanetary disks, 12CO/13CO isotopologue ratios can be altered by ice and gas partitioning, low-temperature isotopic ion exchange reactions, and isotope-selective photodissociation. Here we report on the detection of 13CO in the atmosphere of the young, accreting giant planet TYC 8998-760-1 b at a statistical significance of >6 sigma. Marginalizing over the planet's atmospheric temperature structure, chemical composition, and spectral calibration uncertainties, suggests a 12CO/13CO ratio of 31 [+17,-10] (90% confidence), a significant enrichment in 13C with respect to the terrestrial standard and the local interstellar value. Since the current location of TYC 8998 b at >160 au is far beyond the CO snowline, we postulate that it accreted a significant fraction of its carbon from ices enriched in 13C through fractionation. Future isotopologue measurements in exoplanet atmospheres can provide unique constraints on where, when and how planets are formed.