Spectrally resolved helium absorption from the extended atmosphere of a warm Neptune-mass exoplanet.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Spectrally resolved helium absorption from the extended atmosphere of a warm Neptune-mass exoplanet.
Authors:	Allart, R., Bourrier, V., Lovis, C., Ehrenreich, D., Spake, J. J., Wyttenbach, A., Pino, L., Pepe, F., Sing, D. K., des Etangs, A. Lecavelier
Source:	Science (pre-March 2025). 12/21/2018, Vol. 362 Issue 6421, p1384-1387. 4p. 1 Color Photograph, 4 Diagrams.
Subjects:	Atmospheres of extrasolar planets, Helium, Planetary observations, Atmospheric research, Mass loss (Astrophysics)
Abstract:	Stellar heating causes atmospheres of close-in exoplanets to expand and escape. These extended atmospheres are difficult to observe because their main spectral signature—neutral hydrogen at ultraviolet wavelengths—is strongly absorbed by interstellar medium. We report the detection of the near-infrared triplet of neutral helium in the transiting warm Neptune-mass exoplanet HAT-P-11b by using ground-based, high-resolution observations. The helium feature is repeatable over two independent transits, with an average absorption depth of 1.08 ± 0.05%. Interpreting absorption spectra with three-dimensional simulations of the planet’s upper atmosphere suggests that it extends beyond 5 planetary radii, with a large-scale height and a helium mass loss rate of ≲3 × 105 grams per second. A net blue-shift of the absorption might be explained by high-altitude winds flowing at 3 kilometers per second from day to night-side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	Stellar heating causes atmospheres of close-in exoplanets to expand and escape. These extended atmospheres are difficult to observe because their main spectral signature—neutral hydrogen at ultraviolet wavelengths—is strongly absorbed by interstellar medium. We report the detection of the near-infrared triplet of neutral helium in the transiting warm Neptune-mass exoplanet HAT-P-11b by using ground-based, high-resolution observations. The helium feature is repeatable over two independent transits, with an average absorption depth of 1.08 ± 0.05%. Interpreting absorption spectra with three-dimensional simulations of the planet’s upper atmosphere suggests that it extends beyond 5 planetary radii, with a large-scale height and a helium mass loss rate of ≲3 × 105 grams per second. A net blue-shift of the absorption might be explained by high-altitude winds flowing at 3 kilometers per second from day to night-side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00368075
DOI:	10.1126/science.aat5879