# Probing the extent of WASP-52 b's atmosphere. High-resolution observations and 3D modeling insights

**Authors:** F. Nail, A. Oklop\v{c}i\'c, M. MacLeod, K. Baka, S. Czesla, E. Nagel, D. Linssen, J. Matthijsse

arXiv: 2508.20572 · 2025-10-29

## TL;DR

This study combines high-resolution spectroscopy and 3D hydrodynamic modeling to investigate the atmospheric escape of WASP-52 b, revealing a transitional escape regime with no strong evidence of extended helium absorption or anisotropic outflow.

## Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive approach using broad phase high-resolution spectra and advanced 3D modeling to characterize atmospheric escape in WASP-52 b, a regime not extensively studied before.

## Key findings

- No significant helium absorption detected beyond transit.
- Model suggests a possible escape structure below detection limits.
- WASP-52 b exhibits a transitional atmospheric escape regime.

## Abstract

WASP-52 b is an inflated hot Jupiter with a large Roche lobe filling fraction, positioned in the hot Neptune desert. Previous in-transit observations of the helium triplet at 10833 A have reported a range of excess absorption values (1.5%-5.5%) and a lack of net blueshift relative to the planet's rest frame, distinguishing it from other escaping atmospheres. This study investigates the extent and morphology of material escaping from WASP-52 b, assessing whether its outflow resembles a stream-like structure, as suggested for HAT-P-67 b and HAT-P-32 b. We obtained high-resolution spectra with CRIRES+ and CARMENES, covering a broader orbital phase range ($\varphi \approx \pm0.1, \pm0.2, 0.5$) than previous studies. By analyzing the He I 10833 A line as a tracer of escape, we search for extended absorption beyond transit. Additionally, we explore possible outflow morphologies with three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic simulations, coupled with an improved radiative transfer approach, assessing the He I 10833 A triplet. The helium line shows no significant evidence of planetary material at the orbital phases observed in this work, though 3D modeling suggests such a structure could exist below observational detection limits. We conclude that the atmospheric outflow of WASP-52 b can be characterized by an intermediate hydrodynamic escape parameter, placing it in a transitional regime between cold outflows forming a stream-like morphology and hot outflows forming a tail. Additionally, the absence of a detectable in-transit blueshift in the helium line rules out a strong day-to-nightside anisotropy scenario.

## Full text

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## Figures

31 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/2508.20572/full.md

## References

53 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/2508.20572/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/2508.20572