Denis Shulyak

Thanks to the advances in modern instrumentation we learned about many exoplanets that spawn a wide range of masses and composition. Studying their atmospheres provides insight into planetary diversity, origin, evolution, dynamics, and habitability. Present and future observing facilities will address these important topics in very detail by using more precise observations, high-resolution spectroscopy, improved analysis methods, etc. In this contribution we focus on the analysis of temperature and disequilibrium chemical processes in hot Jupiter atmospheres. In particular, we investigate the impact of photochemistry and vertical transport processes on mixing ratio profiles and on the simulated spectra of a hot Jupiters that orbits stars of various spectral types. We additionally address the impact of stellar activity that should be present in all stars with convective envelopes. Finally, we estimate the characterization of these processes using space and ground-based observations that will be carried out with near-future instruments and missions.

By means of numerical experiments we explore the application of interferometry to the detection and characterization of abundance spots in chemically peculiar (CP) stars using the brightest star ε UMa as a case study. We find that the best spectral regions to search for spots and stellar rotation signatures are in the visual domain. The spots can clearly be detected already at a first visibility lobe and their signatures can be uniquely disentangled from that of rotation. The spots and rotation signatures can also be detected in near-infrared at low spectral resolution but baselines longer than 180 m are needed for all potential CP candidates. According to our simulations, an instrument like VEGA (or its successor e.g. Fibered and spectrally Resolved Interferometric Equipment New Design) should be able to detect, in the visual, the effect of spots and spots+rotation, provided that the instrument is able to measure V² ≈ 10⁻³, and/or closure phase. In infrared, an instrument like AMBER but with longer baselines than the ones available so far would be able to measure rotation and spots. Our study provides necessary details about strategies of spot detections and the requirements for modern and planned interferometric facilities essential for CP star research.

Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) is an international journal which publishes papers on all aspects of astronomy and astrophysics

High-resolution spectra obtained with the 6m BTA telescope, Russia, and with HARPS and VLT/UVES telescopes at ESO, Chile, were used for Doppler Imaging analysis of two roAp stars, HD 12098 and HD 60435, showing strong and variable Li resonance line in their spectra. We found that Li has highly inhomogeneous distribution on the surfaces of these stars. We compared our results with previously obtained Doppler Imaging mapping of two CP2 stars, HD 83368 and HD 3980, and discuss the correlation between the position of the high Li-abundance spots and magnetic field.

In atmospheres of magnetic main-sequence stars, the diffusion of chemical elements leads to a number of observed anomalies, such as abundance spots across the stellar surface. The aim of this study was to derive a detailed picture of the surface abundance distribution of the magnetic chemically peculiar star HD 3980. Based on high-resolution, phase-resolved spectroscopic observations of the magnetic A-type star HD 3980, the inhomogeneous surface distribution of 13 chemical elements (Li, O, Si, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, and Gd) has been reconstructed. The INVERS12 code was used to invert the rotational variability in line profiles to elemental surface distributions. Assuming a centered, dominantly dipolar magnetic field configuration, we find that Li, O, Mg, Pr, and Nd are mainly concentrated in the area of the magnetic poles and depleted in the regions around the magnetic equator. The high abundance spots of Si, La, Ce, Eu, and Gd are located between the magnetic poles and the magnetic equator. Except for La, which is clearly depleted in the area of the magnetic poles, no obvious correlation with the magnetic field has been found for these elements otherwise. Ca, Cr, and Fe appear enhanced along the rotational equator and the area around the magnetic poles. The intersection between the magnetic and the rotational equator constitutes an exception, especially for Ca and Cr, which are depleted in that region. No obvious correlation between the theoretically predicted abundance patterns and those determined in this study could be found. This can be attributed to a lack of up-to-date theoretical models, especially for rare earth elements.

Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) is an international journal which publishes papers on all aspects of astronomy and astrophysics

As a well-established procedure for the vast majority of normal main-sequence stars, determination of atmospheric and stellar parameters turns to be a challenging process in case of magnetic chemically peculiar stars. Inhomogeneous distribution of chemical elements and strong magnetic fields make most of the standard photometric and spectroscopic calibrations inapplicable for this class of stars. In this work we make use of available observed energy distributions calibrated to absolute units, stellar parallaxes, high-resolution spectroscopic observations, and advanced stellar atmosphere models to derive parameters of three bright Ap stars: 33Lib, gammaEqu, and betaCrB. Model atmospheres and fluxes were computed with the LLmodels code. Synth3 and Synthmag codes were used to compute profiles of individual spectral lines involved in abundance analysis. For each of the stars, we construct a self-consistent atmospheric models assuming normal and depleted helium compositions and derive empirically stratification profiles of certain elements. The effective temperatures and surface gravities are found from the simultaneous fit to spectroscopic, photometric, and spectrophotometric observations calibrated to absolute units. We show that using advanced model atmospheres and accurate stellar parallaxes allows one to derive stellar radii with high accuracy, and these are consistent with those obtained from independent but more complicated interferometric observations.

Since there are several ways planets can survive the giant phase of the host star, we examine the habitability and detection of planets orbiting white dwarfs. As a white dwarf cools from 6000 K to 4000 K, a planet orbiting at 0.01 AU would remain in the Continuous Habitable Zone (CHZ) for ~8 Gyr. We show that photosynthetic processes can be sustained on such planets. The DNA-weighted UV radiation dose for an Earth-like planet in the CHZ is less than the maxima encountered on Earth, hence non-magnetic white dwarfs are compatible with the persistence of complex life. Polarisation due to a terrestrial planet in the CHZ of a cool white dwarf is 10^2 (10^4) times larger than it would be in the habitable zone of a typical M-dwarf (Sun-like star). Polarimetry is thus a viable way to detect close-in rocky planets around white dwarfs. Multi-band polarimetry would also allow reveal the presence of a planet atmosphere, providing a first characterisation. Planets in the CHZ of a 0.6 M_sun white dwarf will be distorted by Roche geometry, and a Kepler-11d analogue would overfill its Roche lobe. With current facilities a Super-Earth-sized atmosphereless planet is detectable with polarimetry around the brightest known cool white dwarf. Planned future facilities render smaller planets detectable, in particular by increasing the instrumental sensitivity in the blue.

Context. In atmospheres of magnetic main-sequence stars, the diffusion of chemical elements leads to a number of observed anomalies, such as abundance spots across the stellar surface.Aims. The aim of this study was to derive a detailed picture of the surface abundance distribution of the magnetic chemically peculiar star HD 3980.Methods. Based on high-resolution, phase-resolved spectroscopic observations of the magnetic A-type star HD 3980, the inhomogeneous surface distribution of 13 chemical elements (Li, O, Si, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, and Gd) has been reconstructed. The INVERS12 code was used to invert the rotational variability in line profiles to elemental surface distributions.Results. Assuming a centered, dominantly dipolar magnetic field configuration, we find that Li, O, Mg, Pr, and Nd are mainly concentrated in the area of the magnetic poles and depleted in the regions around the magnetic equator. The high abundance spots of Si, La, Ce, Eu, and Gd are located between the magnetic poles and the magnetic equator. Except for La, which is clearly depleted in the area of the magnetic poles, no obvious correlation with the magnetic field has been found for these elements otherwise. Ca, Cr, and Fe appear enhanced along the rotational equator and the area around the magnetic poles. The intersection between the magnetic and the rotational equator constitutes an exception, especially for Ca and Cr, which are depleted in that region. Conclusions. No obvious correlation between the theoretically predicted abundance patterns and those determined in this study could be found. This can be attributed to a lack of up-to-date theoretical models, especially for rare earth elements.