Using Asteroseismology to Calibrate the Physical Parameters of Confirmed Exoplanets and Their Evolved Host Stars

TL;DR

This study demonstrates how asteroseismology, using TESS data, can precisely determine stellar parameters and recalibrate exoplanet masses and orbits, significantly improving the accuracy of exoplanet characterization around evolved stars.

Contribution

First application of asteroseismology to refine exoplanet parameters around evolved stars using TESS data, enhancing accuracy over spectroscopic methods.

Findings

Asteroseismic signatures extracted for four exoplanet-hosting stars.

Recalibrated exoplanet masses and semi-major axes with reduced uncertainties.

Extended the use of asteroseismology to evolved K-type giant stars.

Abstract

Asteroseismology offers a profound window into stellar interiors and has emerged as a pivotal technique in exoplanetary research. This study harnesses the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) observations to reveal, for the first time, the asteroseismic oscillations of four exoplanet-hosting stars. Through meticulous analysis, we extracted their asteroseismic signatures, enabling the precise determination of stellar masses, radii, luminosities, and surface gravities. These parameters exhibit markedly reduced uncertainties compared to those derived from spectroscopic methods. Crucially, the exoplanets orbiting these stars were initially identified via radial velocity measurements. The refinement of host stellar masses necessitates a corresponding adjustment in planetary characteristics. Employing asteroseismology, we recalibrated the exoplanets' minimum masses and semi-major axes - a novel approach in the field. For instance, the exoplanet HD 5608 b's minimum mass, denoted as Msini, was ascertained to be 1.421 +/- 0.091 M_J through the integration of asteroseismic and radial velocity data. Similarly, two planets within the 7 CMa system yielded Msini values of 1.940 +/- 0.064 MJ and 0.912 +/- 0.067 M_J, respectively. Two planets in HD 33844 system presented Msini figures of 1.726 +/- 0.145 M_J and 1.541 +/- 0.182 M_J, while the HIP 67851 system's planets registered Msini at 1.243 +/- 0.139 M_J and a notably higher 5.387 +/- 0.699 M_J. This investigation extends beyond mere parameter refinement; it underscores the synergy between asteroseismology and exoplanetology, yielding unprecedented precision in system metrics. Focusing on quartet of K-type giants in advanced evolutionary phases, our work positions these systems as invaluable astrophysical laboratories, offering insights into the potential trajectory of our own solar system's fate.