A benchmark JWST near-infrared spectrum for the exoplanet WASP-39 b

A. L. Carter; E. M. May; N. Espinoza; L. Welbanks; E. Ahrer; L. Alderson; R. Brahm; A. D. Feinstein; D. Grant; M. Line; G. Morello; R. O’Steen; M. Radica; Z. Rustamkulov; K. B. Stevenson; J. D. Turner; M. K. Alam; D. R. Anderson; N. M. Batalha; M. P. Battley; D. Bayliss; J. L. Bean; B. Benneke; Z. K. Berta-Thompson; J. Brande; E. M. Bryant; M. R. Burleigh; L. Coulombe; I. J.M. Crossfield; M. Damiano; J. M. Désert; L. Flagg; S. Gill; J. Inglis; J. Kirk; H. Knutson; L. Kreidberg; M. López Morales; M. Mansfield; S. E. Moran; C. A. Murray; M. C. Nixon; D. J.M. Petit dit de la Roche; B. V. Rackham; E. Schlawin; D. K. Sing; H. R. Wakeford; N. L. Wallack; P. J. Wheatley; S. Zieba; K. Aggarwal; J. K. Barstow; T. J. Bell; J. Blecic; C. Caceres; N. Crouzet; P. E. Cubillos; T. Daylan; M. de Val-Borro; L. Decin; J. J. Fortney; N. P. Gibson; K. Heng; R. Hu; E. M.R. Kempton; P. Lagage; J. D. Lothringer; J. Lustig-Yaeger; L. Mancini; N. J. Mayne; L. C. Mayorga; K. Molaverdikhani; E. Nasedkin; K. Ohno; V. Parmentier; D. Powell; S. Redfield; P. Roy; J. Taylor; X. Zhang

doi:10.1038/s41550-024-02292-x

A benchmark JWST near-infrared spectrum for the exoplanet WASP-39 b

A. L. Carter, E. M. May, N. Espinoza, L. Welbanks, E. Ahrer, L. Alderson, R. Brahm, A. D. Feinstein, D. Grant, M. Line, G. Morello, R. O’Steen, M. Radica, Z. Rustamkulov, K. B. Stevenson, J. D. Turner, M. K. Alam, D. R. Anderson, N. M. Batalha, M. P. BattleyD. Bayliss, J. L. Bean, B. Benneke, Z. K. Berta-Thompson, J. Brande, E. M. Bryant, M. R. Burleigh, L. Coulombe, I. J.M. Crossfield, M. Damiano, J. M. Désert, L. Flagg, S. Gill, J. Inglis, J. Kirk, H. Knutson, L. Kreidberg, M. López Morales, M. Mansfield, S. E. Moran, C. A. Murray, M. C. Nixon, D. J.M. Petit dit de la Roche, B. V. Rackham, E. Schlawin, D. K. Sing, H. R. Wakeford, N. L. Wallack, P. J. Wheatley, S. Zieba, K. Aggarwal, J. K. Barstow, T. J. Bell, J. Blecic, C. Caceres, N. Crouzet, P. E. Cubillos, T. Daylan, M. de Val-Borro, L. Decin, J. J. Fortney, N. P. Gibson, K. Heng, R. Hu, E. M.R. Kempton, P. Lagage, J. D. Lothringer, J. Lustig-Yaeger, L. Mancini, N. J. Mayne, L. C. Mayorga, K. Molaverdikhani, E. Nasedkin, K. Ohno, V. Parmentier, D. Powell, S. Redfield, P. Roy, J. Taylor, X. Zhang

Steward Observatory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Observing exoplanets through transmission spectroscopy supplies detailed information about their atmospheric composition, physics and chemistry. Before the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these observations were limited to a narrow wavelength range across the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared, alongside broadband photometry at longer wavelengths. To understand more complex properties of exoplanet atmospheres, improved wavelength coverage and resolution are necessary to robustly quantify the influence of a broader range of absorbing molecular species. Here we present a combined analysis of JWST transmission spectroscopy across four different instrumental modes spanning 0.5–5.2 μm using Early Release Science observations of the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-39 b. Our uniform analysis constrains the orbital and stellar parameters within subpercentage precision, including matching the precision obtained by the most precise asteroseismology measurements of stellar density to date, and it further confirms the presence of Na, K, H₂O, CO, CO₂ and SO₂ as atmospheric absorbers. Through this process, we have improved the agreement between the transmission spectra of all modes, except for the NIRSpec PRISM, which is affected by partial saturation of the detector. This work provides strong evidence that uniform light curve analysis is an important aspect to ensuring reliability when comparing the high-precision transmission spectra provided by JWST.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1008-1019
Number of pages	12
Journal	Nature Astronomy
Volume	8
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02292-x
State	Published - Aug 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics

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10.1038/s41550-024-02292-x

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Carter, A. L., May, E. M., Espinoza, N., Welbanks, L., Ahrer, E., Alderson, L., Brahm, R., Feinstein, A. D., Grant, D., Line, M., Morello, G., O’Steen, R., Radica, M., Rustamkulov, Z., Stevenson, K. B., Turner, J. D., Alam, M. K., Anderson, D. R., Batalha, N. M., ... Zhang, X. (2024). A benchmark JWST near-infrared spectrum for the exoplanet WASP-39 b. Nature Astronomy, 8(8), 1008-1019. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02292-x

Carter, AL, May, EM, Espinoza, N, Welbanks, L, Ahrer, E, Alderson, L, Brahm, R, Feinstein, AD, Grant, D, Line, M, Morello, G, O’Steen, R, Radica, M, Rustamkulov, Z, Stevenson, KB, Turner, JD, Alam, MK, Anderson, DR, Batalha, NM, Battley, MP, Bayliss, D, Bean, JL, Benneke, B, Berta-Thompson, ZK, Brande, J, Bryant, EM, Burleigh, MR, Coulombe, L, Crossfield, IJM, Damiano, M, Désert, JM, Flagg, L, Gill, S, Inglis, J, Kirk, J, Knutson, H, Kreidberg, L, López Morales, M, Mansfield, M, Moran, SE, Murray, CA, Nixon, MC, Petit dit de la Roche, DJM, Rackham, BV, Schlawin, E, Sing, DK, Wakeford, HR, Wallack, NL, Wheatley, PJ, Zieba, S, Aggarwal, K, Barstow, JK, Bell, TJ, Blecic, J, Caceres, C, Crouzet, N, Cubillos, PE, Daylan, T, de Val-Borro, M, Decin, L, Fortney, JJ, Gibson, NP, Heng, K, Hu, R, Kempton, EMR, Lagage, P, Lothringer, JD, Lustig-Yaeger, J, Mancini, L, Mayne, NJ, Mayorga, LC, Molaverdikhani, K, Nasedkin, E, Ohno, K, Parmentier, V, Powell, D, Redfield, S, Roy, P, Taylor, J & Zhang, X 2024, 'A benchmark JWST near-infrared spectrum for the exoplanet WASP-39 b', Nature Astronomy, vol. 8, no. 8, pp. 1008-1019. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02292-x

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title = "A benchmark JWST near-infrared spectrum for the exoplanet WASP-39 b",

abstract = "Observing exoplanets through transmission spectroscopy supplies detailed information about their atmospheric composition, physics and chemistry. Before the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these observations were limited to a narrow wavelength range across the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared, alongside broadband photometry at longer wavelengths. To understand more complex properties of exoplanet atmospheres, improved wavelength coverage and resolution are necessary to robustly quantify the influence of a broader range of absorbing molecular species. Here we present a combined analysis of JWST transmission spectroscopy across four different instrumental modes spanning 0.5–5.2 μm using Early Release Science observations of the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-39 b. Our uniform analysis constrains the orbital and stellar parameters within subpercentage precision, including matching the precision obtained by the most precise asteroseismology measurements of stellar density to date, and it further confirms the presence of Na, K, H2O, CO, CO2 and SO2 as atmospheric absorbers. Through this process, we have improved the agreement between the transmission spectra of all modes, except for the NIRSpec PRISM, which is affected by partial saturation of the detector. This work provides strong evidence that uniform light curve analysis is an important aspect to ensuring reliability when comparing the high-precision transmission spectra provided by JWST.",

author = "Carter, {A. L.} and May, {E. M.} and N. Espinoza and L. Welbanks and E. Ahrer and L. Alderson and R. Brahm and Feinstein, {A. D.} and D. Grant and M. Line and G. Morello and R. O{\textquoteright}Steen and M. Radica and Z. Rustamkulov and Stevenson, {K. B.} and Turner, {J. D.} and Alam, {M. K.} and Anderson, {D. R.} and Batalha, {N. M.} and Battley, {M. P.} and D. Bayliss and Bean, {J. L.} and B. Benneke and Berta-Thompson, {Z. K.} and J. Brande and Bryant, {E. M.} and Burleigh, {M. R.} and L. Coulombe and Crossfield, {I. J.M.} and M. Damiano and D{\'e}sert, {J. M.} and L. Flagg and S. Gill and J. Inglis and J. Kirk and H. Knutson and L. Kreidberg and {L{\'o}pez Morales}, M. and M. Mansfield and Moran, {S. E.} and Murray, {C. A.} and Nixon, {M. C.} and {Petit dit de la Roche}, {D. J.M.} and Rackham, {B. V.} and E. Schlawin and Sing, {D. K.} and Wakeford, {H. R.} and Wallack, {N. L.} and Wheatley, {P. J.} and S. Zieba and K. Aggarwal and Barstow, {J. K.} and Bell, {T. J.} and J. Blecic and C. Caceres and N. Crouzet and Cubillos, {P. E.} and T. Daylan and {de Val-Borro}, M. and L. Decin and Fortney, {J. J.} and Gibson, {N. P.} and K. Heng and R. Hu and Kempton, {E. M.R.} and P. Lagage and Lothringer, {J. D.} and J. Lustig-Yaeger and L. Mancini and Mayne, {N. J.} and Mayorga, {L. C.} and K. Molaverdikhani and E. Nasedkin and K. Ohno and V. Parmentier and D. Powell and S. Redfield and P. Roy and J. Taylor and X. Zhang",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

year = "2024",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1038/s41550-024-02292-x",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "8",

pages = "1008--1019",

journal = "Nature Astronomy",

issn = "2397-3366",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "8",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A benchmark JWST near-infrared spectrum for the exoplanet WASP-39 b

AU - Carter, A. L.

AU - May, E. M.

AU - Espinoza, N.

AU - Welbanks, L.

AU - Ahrer, E.

AU - Alderson, L.

AU - Brahm, R.

AU - Feinstein, A. D.

AU - Grant, D.

AU - Line, M.

AU - Morello, G.

AU - O’Steen, R.

AU - Radica, M.

AU - Rustamkulov, Z.

AU - Stevenson, K. B.

AU - Turner, J. D.

AU - Alam, M. K.

AU - Anderson, D. R.

AU - Batalha, N. M.

AU - Battley, M. P.

AU - Bayliss, D.

AU - Bean, J. L.

AU - Benneke, B.

AU - Berta-Thompson, Z. K.

AU - Brande, J.

AU - Bryant, E. M.

AU - Burleigh, M. R.

AU - Coulombe, L.

AU - Crossfield, I. J.M.

AU - Damiano, M.

AU - Désert, J. M.

AU - Flagg, L.

AU - Gill, S.

AU - Inglis, J.

AU - Kirk, J.

AU - Knutson, H.

AU - Kreidberg, L.

AU - López Morales, M.

AU - Mansfield, M.

AU - Moran, S. E.

AU - Murray, C. A.

AU - Nixon, M. C.

AU - Petit dit de la Roche, D. J.M.

AU - Rackham, B. V.

AU - Schlawin, E.

AU - Sing, D. K.

AU - Wakeford, H. R.

AU - Wallack, N. L.

AU - Wheatley, P. J.

AU - Zieba, S.

AU - Aggarwal, K.

AU - Barstow, J. K.

AU - Bell, T. J.

AU - Blecic, J.

AU - Caceres, C.

AU - Crouzet, N.

AU - Cubillos, P. E.

AU - Daylan, T.

AU - de Val-Borro, M.

AU - Decin, L.

AU - Fortney, J. J.

AU - Gibson, N. P.

AU - Heng, K.

AU - Hu, R.

AU - Kempton, E. M.R.

AU - Lagage, P.

AU - Lothringer, J. D.

AU - Lustig-Yaeger, J.

AU - Mancini, L.

AU - Mayne, N. J.

AU - Mayorga, L. C.

AU - Molaverdikhani, K.

AU - Nasedkin, E.

AU - Ohno, K.

AU - Parmentier, V.

AU - Powell, D.

AU - Redfield, S.

AU - Roy, P.

AU - Taylor, J.

AU - Zhang, X.

PY - 2024/8

Y1 - 2024/8

N2 - Observing exoplanets through transmission spectroscopy supplies detailed information about their atmospheric composition, physics and chemistry. Before the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these observations were limited to a narrow wavelength range across the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared, alongside broadband photometry at longer wavelengths. To understand more complex properties of exoplanet atmospheres, improved wavelength coverage and resolution are necessary to robustly quantify the influence of a broader range of absorbing molecular species. Here we present a combined analysis of JWST transmission spectroscopy across four different instrumental modes spanning 0.5–5.2 μm using Early Release Science observations of the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-39 b. Our uniform analysis constrains the orbital and stellar parameters within subpercentage precision, including matching the precision obtained by the most precise asteroseismology measurements of stellar density to date, and it further confirms the presence of Na, K, H2O, CO, CO2 and SO2 as atmospheric absorbers. Through this process, we have improved the agreement between the transmission spectra of all modes, except for the NIRSpec PRISM, which is affected by partial saturation of the detector. This work provides strong evidence that uniform light curve analysis is an important aspect to ensuring reliability when comparing the high-precision transmission spectra provided by JWST.

AB - Observing exoplanets through transmission spectroscopy supplies detailed information about their atmospheric composition, physics and chemistry. Before the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), these observations were limited to a narrow wavelength range across the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared, alongside broadband photometry at longer wavelengths. To understand more complex properties of exoplanet atmospheres, improved wavelength coverage and resolution are necessary to robustly quantify the influence of a broader range of absorbing molecular species. Here we present a combined analysis of JWST transmission spectroscopy across four different instrumental modes spanning 0.5–5.2 μm using Early Release Science observations of the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-39 b. Our uniform analysis constrains the orbital and stellar parameters within subpercentage precision, including matching the precision obtained by the most precise asteroseismology measurements of stellar density to date, and it further confirms the presence of Na, K, H2O, CO, CO2 and SO2 as atmospheric absorbers. Through this process, we have improved the agreement between the transmission spectra of all modes, except for the NIRSpec PRISM, which is affected by partial saturation of the detector. This work provides strong evidence that uniform light curve analysis is an important aspect to ensuring reliability when comparing the high-precision transmission spectra provided by JWST.

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U2 - 10.1038/s41550-024-02292-x

DO - 10.1038/s41550-024-02292-x

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85198115664

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VL - 8

SP - 1008

EP - 1019

JO - Nature Astronomy

JF - Nature Astronomy

IS - 8

ER -

A benchmark JWST near-infrared spectrum for the exoplanet WASP-39 b

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