The first spectrally resolved Ha measurement of an accreting planet
Abstract
LkCa 15 b was recently detected in Halpha using AO enhanced imaging and we propose to follow-up on this detection with HST STIS observations to provide, for the first time, a velocity resolved profile of planetary Ha emission. The velocity shift of the Ha emission is related to the planetary accretion mode, magnetospheric or boundary layer accretion. If a velocity shift is found that is close to the free-fall velocity, this would point to magnetospheric accretion, and thus, would provide evidence of early planetary magnetic fields.
- Publication:
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HST Proposal
- Pub Date:
- June 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016hst..prop14698S