A New Analysis of Eight Spitzer Phase Curves and Hot Jupiter Population Trends: Qatar-1b, Qatar-2b, WASP-52b, WASP-34b, and WASP-140b

Journal article

Abstract With over 30 phase curves observed during the warm Spitzer mission, the complete data set provides a wealth of information relating to trends and three-dimensional properties of hot Jupiter atmospheres. In this work we present a comparative study of seven new Spitzer phase curves for four planets with equilibrium temperatures T eq ∼ 1300K: Qatar-2b, WASP-52b, WASP-34b, and WASP-140b, as well as a reanalysis of the 4.5 μ m Qatar-1b phase curve due to the similar equilibrium temperature. In total, five 4.5 μ m phase curves and three 3.6 μ m phase curves are analyzed here with a uniform approach. Using these new results, in combination with literature values for the entire population of published Spitzer phase curves of hot Jupiters, we present evidence for a linear trend of increasing hotspot offset with increasing orbital period, as well as observational evidence for two classes of planets in apparent redistribution versus equilibrium temperature parameter space, and tentative evidence for a dependence of hotspot offset on planetary surface gravity in our ∼1300 K sample. We do not find trends in apparent heat redistribution with orbital period or gravity. Nonuniformity in literature Spitzer data analysis techniques precludes a definitive determination of the sources or lack of trends.

Authors: May, EM; Stevenson, KB; Bean, JL; Bell, TJ; Cowan, NB

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Journal: The Astronomical Journal
• Volume: 163
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 256-256
• Publication date: 2022-05-10
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/ac6261
• EISSN: 1538-3881
• ISSN: 0004-6256
• Language: English
• Keywords: Exoplanet; Hot Jupiter; Light curve; Planet; Population; Physics; Astronomy; Astrophysics