Radio observations of HD 80606 near planetary periastron

Abstract

Context. All the giant planets in the Solar System generate radio emission via electron cyclotron maser instability, giving rise most notably to Jupiter’s decametric emissions. An interaction with the solar wind is at least partially responsible for all of these Solar System electron cyclotron masers. HD 80606b is a giant planet with a highly eccentric orbit, leading to predictions that its radio emission may be enhanced substantially near periastron. Aims. This paper reports observations with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) of HD 80606b near its periastron in an effort to detect radio emissions generated by an electron cyclotron maser instability in the planet’s magnetosphere. Methods. The reported observations are at frequencies between 30 and 78 MHz, and they are distinguished from most previous radio observations of extrasolar planets by two factors: (i) they are at frequencies near 50 MHz, much closer to the frequencies at which Jupiter emits (ν < 40 MHz) and lower than most previously reported observations of extrasolar planets; and (ii) sensitivities of approximately a few millijanskys have been achieved, an order of magnitude or more below nearly all previous extrasolar planet observations below 100 MHz. Results. We do not detect any radio emissions from HD 80606b and use these observations to place new constraints on its radio luminosity. We also revisit whether the observations were conducted at a time when HD 80606b was super-Alfvénic relative to the host star’s stellar wind, which experience from the Solar System illustrates is a state in which an electron cyclotron maser emission can be sustained in a planet’s magnetic polar regions.