High-resolution Emission Spectroscopy of the Ultrahot Jupiter KELT-9b: Little Variation in Day- and Nightside Emission Line Contrasts

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution emission spectroscopy to analyze KELT-9b's atmosphere, revealing specific metal emissions and minimal variation between day- and nightside emission line contrasts, indicating complex atmospheric dynamics.

Contribution

First detection of Si I emission in KELT-9b's atmosphere and evidence of consistent emission line contrasts across its day- and nightsides.

Findings

Detection of Si I emission in KELT-9b

Little variation in emission line contrast between day- and nightsides

Confirmation of Fe I emission previously observed in transmission

Abstract

The transmission spectrum of the ultrahot Jupiter KELT-9b ($T_{eq}$ $\sim$ 4000 K) exhibits absorption by several metal species. We searched for atomic and molecular lines in its emission spectrum by observing partial phase curves with the CARMENES spectrograph ($R$ $\sim$ 80,000 $-$ 95,000). We find evidence for emission by Si I in the atmosphere of KELT-9b for the first time. Additionally we find evidence for emission by Mg I and Ca II, which were previously detected in transmission, and confirmed earlier detections of Fe I emission. Conversely, we find no evidence for dayside emission from Al I, Ca I, Cr I, FeH, Fe II, K I, Li I, Mg II, Na I, OH, Ti I, TiO, V I, V II, VO, and Y I. By employing likelihood mapping, we find indications of there being little variation in emission line contrast between the day- and nightsides $-$suggesting that KELT-9b may harbor iron emission on its nightside. Our results demonstrate that high-resolution ground-based emission spectroscopy can provide valuable insights into exoplanet atmospheres.