JWST-TST DREAMS: Sulfur Dioxide in the Atmosphere of the Neptune-mass Planet HAT-P-26 b from NIRSpec G395H Transmission Spectroscopy

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Abstract
We present the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) transmission spectrum of the exoplanet HAT-P-26 b (18.6 M ⊕ , 6.33 R ⊕ ), based on a single transit observed with the JWST NIRSpec G395H grating. We detect water vapor ( ln B = 4.1), carbon dioxide ( ln B = 85.6), and sulfur dioxide ( ln B = 13.5) with high confidence, along with marginal indications for hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide ( ln B < 0.5). The detection of SO 2 in a warm super-Neptune-sized exoplanet ( R P ∼ 6 R ⊕ ) bridges the gap between previous detections in hot Jupiters and sub-Neptunes, highlighting the role of disequilibrium photochemistry across a broad range of exoplanet atmospheres, including those cooler than 1000 K. Our precise measurements of carbon, oxygen, and sulfur indicate an atmospheric metallicity of ∼10× solar and a subsolar C/O ratio. Retrieved molecular abundances are consistent within 2 σ with predictions from self-consistent models including photochemistry. The elevated CO 2 abundance and possible H 2 S signal may also reflect sensitivities to the thermal structure, cloud properties, or additional disequilibrium processes such as vertical mixing. We compare the SO 2 abundance in HAT-P-26 b with that of 10 other JWST-observed giant exoplanets, and find a correlation with atmospheric metallicity. The trend is consistent with the prediction from I. J. M. Crossfield, showing a steep rise in SO 2 abundance at low metallicities, and a more gradual increase beyond 30× solar. This work is part of a series of studies by our JWST Telescope Scientist Team (JWST-TST), in which we use Guaranteed Time Observations to perform Deep Reconnaissance of Exoplanet Atmospheres through Multi-instrument Spectroscopy (DREAMS).
Funding Information
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80NSSC20K0586)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (HST-HF2-51513.001)
  • EC ∣ Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (EP/Y006313/1)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80GSFC24M0006)

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