A circularly polarized low-frequency radio burst from the exoplanetary system HD 189733

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of a highly circularly polarized low-frequency radio burst from the exoplanetary system HD 189733, providing insights into star-planet interactions and planetary magnetic phenomena.

Contribution

First detection of a circularly polarized radio burst from HD 189733, demonstrating the potential of low-frequency radio observations to probe exoplanetary magnetic activity.

Findings

Detected a 50 MHz radio burst with 1.5 Jy flux density

Burst shows at least 38% circular polarization

No periodic signals linked to the planet's orbit or star's rotation

Abstract

We aim to detect low-frequency radio emission from exoplanetary systems, which can provide insights into planetary magnetic fields, star-planet interactions, stellar activity, and exo-space weather. The HD 189733 system, hosting a well-studied hot Jupiter, is a prime target for such searches. We conducted NenuFAR imaging observations in the 15-62 MHz range, in order to cover the entire orbital phase of HD 189733 b. Dynamic spectra were generated for the target and other sources in the field, followed by a transient search in the time-frequency plane. The data processing pipeline incorporated direction-dependent calibration and noise characterization to improve sensitivity. We also searched for periodic signals using Lomb-Scargle analysis. A highly circularly polarized radio burst was detected at 50 MHz with a flux density of 1.5 Jy and a significance of 6 sigma at the position of HD 189733. No counterpart was found in Stokes I, likely because the emission is embedded in confusion noise and remains below the detection threshold. The estimated minimum fractional circular polarization of 38% suggests a coherent emission process. A periodicity search revealed no weaker signals linked to the planet's orbital period, the star's rotational period, or the synodic period and harmonic period between them. The burst's properties are consistent with cyclotron maser instability (CMI) emission, but the origin is still ambiguous. The comparison with theoretical models suggests star-planet interaction or stellar activity as potential origins. However, alternative explanations such as contamination from other sources along the line of sight (e.g. the companion M dwarf) or noise fluctuation cannot be ruled out.