An Atmosphere on the Ultra-Short Period super-Earth HD 3167 b

TL;DR

This study presents JWST observations of the ultra-short period super-Earth HD 3167 b, providing evidence for an atmosphere that influences its thermal emission and refining its planetary parameters.

Contribution

First direct detection of atmospheric effects on an ultra-short period super-Earth using JWST, bridging the gap in understanding atmospheric presence at high instellation flux.

Findings

Measured eclipse depth indicates a cooling atmosphere on HD 3167 b.

The planet's dayside temperature suggests reflection and heat redistribution by an atmosphere.

Refined planetary parameters, confirming atmospheric presence on the least irradiated USP super-Earth.

Abstract

'Lava worlds'-Earth-sized planets hot enough (Teq >~ 1100 K) to melt their dayside silicate surfaces-have emerged as promising candidates for atmospheric detection and characterization. Thermal emission observations show an apparent dichotomy: the hottest lava worlds have colder daysides than the temperature of a maximally emitting bare rock, indicating the likely presence of thick and/or reflective atmospheres while the coldest ones do not. However, where in instellation flux this potential bifurcation occurs is uncertain. We present a JWST MIRI LRS eclipse of the ultra-short period (USP) lava world HD 3167 b (Teq = 1786 K, R = 1.6 Rearth, P = 0.96 d) that helps bridge this gap. We measure the white light eclipse depth to be 38 +/- 11 ppm, more than 5 sigma lower than the expected eclipse depth of a dark, maximally hot bare rock. We use this to derive a dayside brightness temperature that is best explained by the presence of an atmosphere that cools the dayside by reflecting incoming starlight and/or efficiently redistributing heat to the planet's nightside. An atmosphere is further compatible with the planet's slight under-density compared to an Earth-like composition. The corresponding dayside emission spectrum is not precise enough to constrain atmospheric composition, motivating follow-up spectroscopic observations with JWST NIRSpec. Lastly, we use our observation and existing data to refine key planetary parameters of the HD 3167 system. HD 3167 b is currently the least irradiated USP super-Earth with evidence for an atmosphere.