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GD1400AB was one of the first known white dwarf$+$brown dwarf binaries, and is the only one of these systems where the white dwarf is a ZZ Ceti pulsator. Here we present both radial velocity measurements and time series photometry, analysing both the white dwarf pulsations and the effects of irradiation on the brown dwarf. We find the brightness temperatures of 1760$/pm$10 K for the night side and 1860$/pm$10 K for the day side indicate the brown dwarf is hotter than spectra have previously suggested, although brightness temperatures calculated using a larger radius for the brown dwarf are consistent with previously determined spectral types. We also discuss the likely evolutionary pathway of this binary, and put its common envelope phase into context with the other known systems., Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stae2301

Observing exoplanets through transmission spectroscopy supplies detailed information on their atmospheric composition, physics, and chemistry. Prior to 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 micron using Early Release Science observations of the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-39b. Our uniform analysis constrains the orbital and stellar parameters within sub-percent precision, including matching the precision obtained by the most precise asteroseismology measurements of stellar density to-date, and further confirms the presence of Na, K, H$_2$O, CO, CO$_2$, and SO$_2$ atmospheric absorbers. Through this process, we also improve 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., Comment: 34 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables. Nat Astron (2024)

The TOI-178 system consists of a nearby late K-dwarf transited by six planets in the super-Earth to mini-Neptune regime, with radii ranging from 1.2 to 2.9 earth radius and orbital periods between 1.9 and 20.7 days. All planets but the innermost one form a chain of Laplace resonances. The fine-tuning and fragility of such orbital configurations ensure that no significant scattering or collision event has taken place since the formation and migration of the planets in the protoplanetary disc, hence providing important anchors for planet formation models. We aim to improve the characterisation of the architecture of this key system, and in particular the masses and radii of its planets. In addition, since this system is one of the few resonant chains that can be characterised by both photometry and radial velocities, we aim to use it as a test bench for the robustness of the planetary mass determination with each technique. We perform a global analysis of all available photometry and radial velocity. We also try different sets of priors on the masses and eccentricity, as well as different stellar activity models, to study their effects on the masses estimated by each method. We show how stellar activity is preventing us from obtaining a robust mass estimation for the three outer planets using radial velocity data alone. We also show that our joint photo-dynamical and radial velocity analysis resulted in a robust mass determination for planets c to g, with precision of 12% for the mass of planet c, and better than 10% for planets d to g. The new precisions on the radii range from 2 to 3%. The understanding of this synergy between photometric and radial velocity measurements will be valuable during the PLATO mission. We also show that TOI-178 is indeed currently locked in the resonant configuration, librating around an equilibrium of the chain.

Long-period transiting exoplanets bridge the gap between the bulk of transit- and Doppler-based exoplanet discoveries, providing key insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems. The wider separation between these planets and their host stars results in the exoplanets typically experiencing less radiation from their host stars; hence, they should maintain more of their original atmospheres, which can be probed during transit via transmission spectroscopy. Although the known population of long-period transiting exoplanets is relatively sparse, surveys performed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) are now discovering new exoplanets to fill in this crucial region of the exoplanetary parameter space. This study presents the detection and characterisation of NGTS-30 b/TOI-4862 b, a new long-period transiting exoplanet detected by following up on a single-transit candidate found in the TESS mission. Through monitoring using a combination of photometric instruments (TESS, NGTS, and EulerCam) and spectroscopic instruments (CORALIE, FEROS, HARPS, and PFS), NGTS-30 b/TOI-4862 b was found to be a long-period (P = 98.29838 day) Jupiter-sized (0.928 RJ; 0.960 MJ) planet transiting a 1.1 Gyr old G-type star. With a moderate eccentricity of 0.294, its equilibrium temperature could be expected to vary from 274 K to 500 K over the course of its orbit. Through interior modelling, NGTS-30 b/TOI-4862 b was found to have a heavy element mass fraction of 0.23 and a heavy element enrichment (Zp/Z_star) of 20, making it metal-enriched compared to its host star. NGTS-30 b/TOI-4862 b is one of the youngest well-characterised long-period exoplanets found to date and will therefore be important in the quest to understanding the formation and evolution of exoplanets across the full range of orbital separations and ages., Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

Previous examinations of fully-convective M-dwarf stars have highlighted enhanced rates of nanoflare activity on these distant stellar sources. However, the specific role the convective boundary, which is believed to be present for spectral types earlier than M2.5V, plays on the observed nanoflare rates is not yet known. Here, we utilize a combination of statistical and Fourier techniques to examine M-dwarf stellar lightcurves that lie on either side of the convective boundary. We find that fully convective M2.5V (and later sub-types) stars have greatly enhanced nanoflare rates compared with their pre-dynamo mode transition counterparts. Specifically, we derive a flaring power-law index in the region of $3.00 \pm 0.20$, alongside a decay timescale of $200 \pm 100$~s for M2.5V and M3V stars, matching those seen in prior observations of similar stellar sub-types. Interestingly, M4V stars exhibit longer decay timescales of $450 \pm 50$~s, along with an increased power-law index of $3.10 \pm 0.18$, suggesting an interplay between the rate of nanoflare occurrence and the intrinsic plasma parameters, for example, the underlying Lundquist number. In contrast, partially convective (i.e., earlier sub-types from M0V to M2V) M-dwarf stars exhibit very weak nanoflare activity, which is not easily identifiable using statistical or Fourier techniques. This suggests that fully convective stellar atmospheres favor small-scale magnetic reconnection, leading to implications for the flare-energy budgets of these stars. Understanding why small-scale reconnection is enhanced in fully convective atmospheres may help solve questions relating to the dynamo behavior of these stellar sources., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables. Accepted to ApJ

In this paper, we present observations of two high-resolution transit datasets obtained with ESPRESSO of the bloated sub-Saturn planet WASP-131~b. We have simultaneous photometric observations with NGTS and EulerCam. In addition, we utilised photometric lightcurves from {\tess}, WASP, EulerCam and TRAPPIST of multiple transits to fit for the planetary parameters and update the ephemeris. We spatially resolve the stellar surface of WASP-131 utilising the Reloaded Rossiter McLaughlin technique to search for centre-to-limb convective variations, stellar differential rotation, and to determine the star-planet obliquity for the first time. We find WASP-131 is misaligned on a nearly retrograde orbit with a projected obliquity of $\lambda = 162.4\substack{+1.3 \\ -1.2}^{\circ}$. In addition, we determined a stellar differential rotation shear of $\alpha = 0.61 \pm 0.06$ and disentangled the stellar inclination ($i_* = 40.9\substack{+13.3 \\ -8.5}^{\circ}$) from the projected rotational velocity, resulting in an equatorial velocity of $v_{\rm{eq}} = 7.7\substack{+1.5 \\ -1.3}$~km s$^{-1}$. In turn, we determined the true 3D obliquity of $\psi = 123.7\substack{+12.8 \\ -8.0}^{\circ}$, meaning the planet is on a perpendicular/polar orbit. Therefore, we explored possible mechanisms for the planetary system's formation and evolution. Finally, we searched for centre-to-limb convective variations where there was a null detection, indicating that centre-to-limb convective variations are not prominent in this star or are hidden within red noise., Comment: 15 Pages, 10 Figures and 4 Tables Accepted for Publication in MNRAS. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2207.10127

We analyse spectroscopic and photometric transits of the hot Jupiters WASP-52b and HAT-P30b obtained with ESPRESSO, Eulercam and NGTS for both targets, and additional TESS data for HAT-P-30. Our goal is to update the system parameters and refine our knowledge of the host star surfaces. For WASP-52, the companion planet has occulted starspots in the past, and as such our aim was to use the reloaded Rossiter-McLaughlin technique to directly probe its starspot properties. Unfortunately, we find no evidence for starspot occultations in the datasets herein. Additionally, we searched for stellar surface differential rotation (DR) and any centre-to-limb variation (CLV) due to convection, but return a null detection of both. This is unsurprising for WASP-52, given its relatively cool temperature, high magnetic activity (which leads to lower CLV), and projected obliquity near 0 degrees (meaning the transit chord is less likely to cross several stellar latitudes). For HAT-P-30, this result was more surprising given its hotter effective temperature, lower magnetic field, and high projected obliquity (near 70 degrees). To explore the reasons behind the null DR and CLV detection for HAT-P-30, we simulated a variety of scenarios. We find that either the CLV present on HAT-P-30 is below the solar level or the presence of DR prevents a CLV detection given the precision of the data herein. A careful treatment of both DR and CLV is required, especially for systems with high impact factors, due to potential degeneracies between the two. Future observations and/or a sophisticated treatment of the red noise present in the data (likely due to granulation) is required to refine the DR and CLV for these particular systems; such observations would also present another opportunity to try to examine starspots on WASP-52., Comment: 11 pages main text, 8 figures; accepted for publication in A&A

In this paper, we present high-resolution spectroscopic transit observations from ESPRESSO of the super-Neptune WASP-166~b. In addition to spectroscopic ESPRESSO data, we analyse photometric data from {\sl TESS} of six WASP-166~b transits along with simultaneous NGTS observations of the ESPRESSO runs. These observations were used to fit for the planetary parameters as well as assessing the level of stellar activity (e.g. spot crossings, flares) present during the ESPRESSO observations. We utilise the Reloaded Rossiter McLaughlin (RRM) technique to spatially resolve the stellar surface, characterising the centre-to-limb convection-induced variations, and to refine the star-planet obliquity. We find WASP-166~b has a projected obliquity of $\lambda = -15.52^{+2.85}_{-2.76}$$^{\circ}$ and $v\sin(i) = 4.97 \pm 0.09$~kms$^{-1}$ which is consistent with the literature. We were able to characterise centre-to-limb convective variations as a result of granulation on the surface of the star on the order of a few kms$^{-1}$ for the first time. We modelled the centre-to-limb convective variations using a linear, quadratic and cubic model with the cubic being preferred. In addition, by modelling the differential rotation and centre-to-limb convective variations simultaneously we were able to retrieve a potential anti-solar differential rotational shear ($\alpha \sim$ -0.5) and stellar inclination ($i_*$ either 42.03$^{+9.13}_{-9.60}$$^{\circ}$ or 133.64$^{+8.42}_{-7.98}$$^{\circ}$ if the star is pointing towards or away from us). Finally, we investigate how the shape of the cross-correlation functions change as a function of limb angle and compare our results to magnetohydrodynamic simulations., Comment: 18 Pages, 13 Figures, 4 Tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Long-period transiting planets provide the opportunity to better understand the formation and evolution of planetary systems. Their atmospheric properties remain largely unaltered by tidal or radiative effects of the host star, and their orbital arrangement reflects a different, and less extreme, migrational history compared to close-in objects. The sample of long-period exoplanets with well determined masses and radii is still limited, but a growing number of long-period objects reveal themselves in the TESS data. Our goal is to vet and confirm single transit planet candidates detected in the TESS space-based photometric data through spectroscopic and photometric follow up observations with ground-based instruments. We use the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) to photometrically monitor the candidates in order to observe additional transits. We report the discovery of two massive, warm Jupiter-size planets, one orbiting the F8-type star TOI-5153 and the other orbiting the G1-type star NGTS-20 (=TOI-5152). From our spectroscopic analysis, both stars are metal-rich with a metallicity of 0.12 and 0.15, respectively. Follow-up radial velocity observations were carried out with CORALIE, CHIRON, FEROS, and HARPS. TOI-5153 hosts a 20.33 day period planet with a planetary mass of 3.26 (+-0.18) Mj, a radius of 1.06 (+-0.04) Rj , and an orbital eccentricity of 0.091 (+-0.026). NGTS-20 b is a 2.98 (+-0.16) Mj planet with a radius of 1.07 (+-0.04) Rj on an eccentric (0.432 +- 0.023) orbit with an orbital period of 54.19 days. Both planets are metal-enriched and their heavy element content is in line with the previously reported mass-metallicity relation for gas giants. Both warm Jupiters orbit moderately bright host stars making these objects valuable targets for follow-up studies of the planetary atmosphere and measurement of the spin-orbit angle of the system., Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, accepted to A&A

DW Cnc is an intermediate polar which has previously been observed in both high and low states. Observations of the high state of DW Cnc have previously revealed a spin period at ~ 38.6 min, however observations from the 2018/19 low state showed no evidence of the spin period. We present results from our analysis of 12 s cadence photometric data collected by NGTS of DW Cnc during the high state which began in 2019. Following the previously reported suppression of the spin period signal we identify the return of this signal during the high state, consistent with previous observations of it. We identify this as the restarting of accretion during the high state. We further identified three short outbursts lasting ~ 1 d in DW Cnc with a mean recurrence time of ~ 60 d and an amplitude of ~ 1 mag. These are the first outbursts identified in DW Cnc since 2008. Due to the short nature of these events we identify them not as a result of accretion instabilities but instead either from instabilities originating from the interaction of the magnetorotational instability in the accretion disc and the magnetic field generated by the white dwarf or the result of magnetic gating., Comment: Accepted to MNRAS; 8 pages, 4 figues

Determining the architecture of multi-planetary systems is one of the cornerstones of understanding planet formation and evolution. Resonant systems are especially important as the fragility of their orbital configuration ensures that no significant scattering or collisional event has taken place since the earliest formation phase when the parent protoplanetary disc was still present. In this context, TOI-178 has been the subject of particular attention since the first TESS observations hinted at a 2:3:3 resonant chain. Here we report the results of observations from CHEOPS, ESPRESSO, NGTS, and SPECULOOS with the aim of deciphering the peculiar orbital architecture of the system. We show that TOI-178 harbours at least six planets in the super-Earth to mini-Neptune regimes, with radii ranging from 1.152(-0.070/+0.073) to 2.87(-0.13/+0.14) Earth radii and periods of 1.91, 3.24, 6.56, 9.96, 15.23, and 20.71 days. All planets but the innermost one form a 2:4:6:9:12 chain of Laplace resonances, and the planetary densities show important variations from planet to planet, jumping from 1.02(+0.28/-0.23) to 0.177(+0.055/-0.061) times the Earth's density between planets c and d. Using Bayesian interior structure retrieval models, we show that the amount of gas in the planets does not vary in a monotonous way, contrary to what one would expect from simple formation and evolution models and unlike other known systems in a chain of Laplace resonances. The brightness of TOI-178 allows for a precise characterisation of its orbital architecture as well as of the physical nature of the six presently known transiting planets it harbours. The peculiar orbital configuration and the diversity in average density among the planets in the system will enable the study of interior planetary structures and atmospheric evolution, providing important clues on the formation of super-Earths and mini-Neptunes.

Light curves of the accreting white dwarf pulsator GW Librae spanning a 7.5 month period in 2017 were obtained as part of the Next Generation Transit Survey. This data set comprises 787 hours of photometry from 148 clear nights, allowing the behaviour of the long (hours) and short period (20min) modulation signals to be tracked from night to night over a much longer observing baseline than has been previously achieved. The long period modulations intermittently detected in previous observations of GW Lib are found to be a persistent feature, evolving between states with periods ~83min and 2-4h on time-scales of several days. The 20min signal is found to have a broadly stable amplitude and frequency for the duration of the campaign, but the previously noted phase instability is confirmed. Ultraviolet observations obtained with the Cosmic Origin Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope constrain the ultraviolet-to-optical flux ratio to ~5 for the 4h modulation, and <=1 for the 20min period, with caveats introduced by non-simultaneous observations. These results add further observational evidence that these enigmatic signals must originate from the white dwarf, highlighting our continued gap in theoretical understanding of the mechanisms that drive them., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 8 pages, 7 figures

Context: The sub-Jovian or Neptunian desert is a previously-identified region of parameter space where there is a relative dearth of intermediate-mass planets at short orbital periods. Aims: We present the discovery of a new transiting planetary system within the Neptunian desert, NGTS-14. Methods: Transits of NGTS-14Ab were discovered in photometry from the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS). Follow-up transit photometry was conducted from several ground-based facilities, as well as extracted from TESS full-frame images. We combine radial velocities from the HARPS spectrograph with the photometry in a global analysis to determine the system parameters. Results: NGTS-14Ab has a radius about 30 per cent larger than that of Neptune ($0.444\pm0.030~\mathrm{R_{Jup}}$), and is around 70 per cent more massive than Neptune ($0.092 \pm 0.012~\mathrm{M_{Jup}}$). It transits the main-sequence K1 star, NGTS-14A, with a period of 3.54 days, just far enough to have maintained at least some of its primordial atmosphere. We have also identified a possible long-period stellar mass companion to the system, NGTS-14B, and we investigate the binarity of exoplanet host stars inside and outside the Neptunian desert using Gaia., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

We present time-resolved optical and ultraviolet spectroscopy and photometry of V1460~Her, an eclipsing cataclysmic variable with a 4.99\,h orbital period and an overluminous K5-type donor star. The optical spectra show emission lines from an accretion disc along with absorption lines from the donor. We use these to measure radial velocities, which, together with constraints upon the orbital inclination from photometry, imply masses of $M_1=0.869\pm0.006\,\mathrm{M}_\odot$ and $M_2=0.295\pm0.004\,\mathrm{M}_\odot$ for the white dwarf and the donor. The radius of the donor, $R_2=0.43\pm0.002\,\mathrm{R}_\odot$, is $\approx 50$ per cent larger than expected given its mass, while its spectral type is much earlier than the M3.5 type that would be expected from a main sequence star with a similar mass. HST spectra show strong $\mathrm{N{\small V}}$ 1240 A emission but no $\mathrm{C{\small IV}}$ 1550 A emission, evidence for CNO-processed material. The donor is therefore a bloated, over-luminous remnant of a thermal-timescale stage of high mass transfer and has yet to re-establish thermal equilibrium. Remarkably, the HST ultraviolet data also show a strong 30 per cent peak-to-peak, $38.9\,$s pulsation that we explain as being due to the spin of the white dwarf, potentially putting V1460 Her in a similar category to the propeller system AE Aqr in terms of its spin frequency and evolutionary path. AE Aqr also features a post-thermal timescale mass donor, and V1460 Her may therefore be its weak magnetic field analogue since the accretion disc is still present, with the white dwarf spin-up a result of a recent high accretion rate.

V341 Ara was recently recognised as one of the closest (d ~ 150 pc) and brightest (V~ 10) nova-like cataclysmic variables. This unique system is surrounded by a bright emission nebula, likely to be the remnant of a recent nova eruption. Embedded within this nebula is a prominent bow-shock, where the system's accretion disc wind runs into its own nova shell. In order to establish its fundamental properties, we present the first comprehensive multi-wavelength study of the system. Long-term photometry reveals quasi-periodic, super-orbital variations with a characteristic time-scale of 10-16 days and typical amplitude of ~1 mag. High-cadence photometry from TESS reveals for the first time both the orbital period and a "negative superhump" period. The latter is usually interpreted as the signature of a tilted accretion disc. We propose a recently developed disc instability model as a plausible explanation for the photometric behaviour. In our spectroscopic data, we clearly detect anti-phased absorption and emission line components. Their radial velocities suggest a high mass ratio, which in turn implies an unusually low white dwarf mass. We also constrain the wind mass-loss rate of the system from the spatially resolved [O iii] emission produced in the bow-shock; this can be used to test and calibrate accretion disc wind models. We suggest a possible association between V341 Ara and a "guest star" mentioned in Chinese historical records in AD1240. If this marks the date of the system's nova eruption, V341 Ara would be the oldest recovered nova of its class and an excellent laboratory for testing nova theory., Comment: Accepted in MNRAS

We present the discovery of only the third brown dwarf known to eclipse a non-accreting white dwarf. Gaia parallax information and multi-colour photometry confirm that the white dwarf is cool (9950$\pm$150K) and has a low mass (0.45$\pm$0.05~MSun), and spectra and lightcurves suggest the brown dwarf has a mass of 0.067 $\pm$0.006 MSun (70 MJup) and a spectral type of L5 $\pm$1. The kinematics of the system show that the binary is likely to be a member of the thick disk and therefore at least 5 Gyr old. The high cadence lightcurves show that the brown dwarf is inflated, making it the first brown dwarf in an eclipsing white dwarf-brown dwarf binary to be so., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 11 pages, 7 Figures

We report the confirmation and mass determination of three hot Jupiters discovered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission: HIP 65Ab (TOI-129, TIC-201248411) is an ultra-short-period Jupiter orbiting a bright (V=11.1 mag) K4-dwarf every 0.98 days. It is a massive 3.213 +/- 0.078 Mjup planet in a grazing transit configuration with an impact parameter of b = 1.17 +0.10/-0.08. As a result the radius is poorly constrained, 2.03 +0.61/-0.49 Rjup. The planet's distance to its host star is less than twice the separation at which it would be destroyed by Roche lobe overflow. It is expected to spiral into HIP 65A on a timescale ranging from 80 Myr to a few gigayears, assuming a reduced tidal dissipation quality factor of Qs' = 10^7 - 10^9. We performed a full phase-curve analysis of the TESS data and detected both illumination- and ellipsoidal variations as well as Doppler boosting. HIP 65A is part of a binary stellar system, with HIP 65B separated by 269 AU (3.95 arcsec on sky). TOI-157b (TIC 140691463) is a typical hot Jupiter with a mass of 1.18 +/- 0.13 Mjup and a radius of 1.29 +/- 0.02 Rjup. It has a period of 2.08 days, which corresponds to a separation of just 0.03 AU. This makes TOI-157 an interesting system, as the host star is an evolved G9 sub-giant star (V=12.7). TOI-169b (TIC 183120439) is a bloated Jupiter orbiting a V=12.4 G-type star. It has a mass of 0.79 +/- 0.06 Mjup and a radius of 1.09 +0.08/-0.05 Rjup. Despite having the longest orbital period (P = 2.26 days) of the three planets, TOI-169b receives the most irradiation and is situated on the edge of the Neptune desert. All three host stars are metal rich with [Fe/H] ranging from 0.18 - 0.24., Comment: Published in A&A

M dwarfs are prime targets in the hunt for habitable worlds around other stars. This is due to their abundance as well as their small radii and low masses and temperatures, which facilitate the detection of temperate, rocky planets in orbit around them. However, the fundamental properties of M dwarfs are difficult to constrain, often limiting our ability to characterise the planets they host. Here we test several theoretical relationships for M dwarfs by measuring 23 high precision, model-independent masses and radii for M dwarfs in binaries with white dwarfs. We find a large scatter in the radii of these low-mass stars, with 25 per cent having radii consistent with theoretical models while the rest are up to 12 per cent over-inflated. This scatter is seen in both partially- and fully-convective M dwarfs. No clear trend is seen between the over-inflation and age or metallicity, but there are indications that the radii of slowly rotating M dwarfs are more consistent with predictions, albeit with a similar amount of scatter in the measurements compared to more rapidly rotating M dwarfs. The sample of M dwarfs in close binaries with white dwarfs appears indistinguishable from other M dwarf samples, implying that common envelope evolution has a negligible impact on their structure. We conclude that theoretical and empirical mass-radius relationships lack the precision and accuracy required to measure the fundamental parameters of M dwarfs well enough to determine the internal structure and bulk composition of the planets they host., Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have discovered a new, near-equal mass, eclipsing M dwarf binary from the Next Generation Transit Survey. This system is only one of 3 field age ($>$ 1 Gyr), late M dwarf eclipsing binaries known, and has a period of 1.74774 days, similar to that of CM~Dra and KOI126. Modelling of the eclipses and radial velocities shows that the component masses are $M_{\rm pri}$=0.17391$^{+0.00153}_{0.00099}$ $M_{\odot}$, $M_{\rm sec}$=0.17418$^{+0.00193}_{-0.00059}$ $M_{\odot}$; radii are $R_{\rm pri}$=0.2045$^{+0.0038}_{-0.0058}$ $R_{\odot}$, $R_{\rm sec}$=0.2168$^{+0.0047}_{-0.0048}$ $R_{\odot}$. The effective temperatures are $T_{\rm pri} = 2995\,^{+85}_{-105}$ K and $T_{\rm sec} = 2997\,^{+66}_{-101}$ K, consistent with M5 dwarfs and broadly consistent with main sequence models. This pair represents a valuable addition which can be used to constrain the mass-radius relation at the low mass end of the stellar sequence., Comment: 12 pages, 9 Figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Observational tests of the white dwarf mass-radius relationship have always been limited by the uncertainty in the available distance measurements. Most studies have focused on Balmer line spectroscopy because these spectra can be obtained from ground based observatories, while the Lyman lines are only accessible to space based UV telescopes. We present results using parallax data from Gaia DR2 combined with space based spectroscopy from HST and FUSE covering the Balmer and Lyman lines. We find that our sample supports the theoretical relation, although there is at least one star which is shown to be inconsistent. Comparison of results between Balmer and Lyman line spectra shows they are in agreement when the latest broadening tables are used. We also assess the factors which contribute to the error in the mass-radius calculations and confirm the findings of other studies which show that the spread in results for targets where multiple spectra are available is larger than the statistical error. The uncertainty in the spectroscopically derived log g parameter is now the main source of error rather than the parallax. Finally, we present new results for the radius and spectroscopic mass of Sirius B which agree with the dynamical mass and mass-radius relation within 1 sigma.

We present the discovery of the shortest-period, non-interacting, white dwarf-brown dwarf post-common-envelope binary known. The K2 light curve shows the system, EPIC 21223532 has a period of 68.2 min and is not eclipsing, but does show a large reflection effect due to the irradiation of the brown dwarf by the white dwarf primary. Spectra show hydrogen, magnesium and calcium emission features from the brown dwarf's irradiated hemisphere, and the mass indicates the spectral type is likely to be L3. Despite having a period substantially lower than the cataclysmic variable period minimum, this system is likely a pre-cataclysmic binary, recently emerged from the common-envelope. These systems are rare, but provide limits on the lowest mass object that can survive common envelope evolution, and information about the evolution of white dwarf progenitors, and post-common envelope evolution., Comment: 7 pages, 6 Figures, 3 Tables, Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We consider the magnetic interaction of exoplanets orbiting M-dwarfs, calculating the expected Poynting flux carried upstream along Alfv\'{e}n wings to the central star. A region of emission analogous to the Io footprint observed in Jupiter's aurora is produced, and we calculate the radio flux density generated near the surface of the star via the electron-cyclotron maser instability. We apply the model to produce individual case studies for the TRAPPIST-1, Proxima Centauri, and the dwarf NGTS-1 systems. We predict steady-state flux densities of up to ~ 10 $\mu$Jy and sporadic bursts of emission of up to ~ 1 mJy from each case study, suggesting these systems may be detectable with the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), and in future with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Finally, we present a survey of 85 exoplanets orbiting M-dwarfs, identifying 11 such objects capable of generating radio emission above 10 $\mu$Jy., Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables

We present high precision, model independent, mass and radius measurements for 16 white dwarfs in detached eclipsing binaries and combine these with previously published data to test the theoretical white dwarf mass-radius relationship. We reach a mean precision of 2.4 per cent in mass and 2.7 per cent in radius, with our best measurements reaching a precision of 0.3 per cent in mass and 0.5 per cent in radius. We find excellent agreement between the measured and predicted radii across a wide range of masses and temperatures. We also find the radii of all white dwarfs with masses less than 0.48M$_\odot$ to be fully consistent with helium core models, but they are on average 9 per cent larger than those of carbon-oxygen core models. In contrast, white dwarfs with masses larger than 0.52M$_\odot$ all have radii consistent with carbon-oxygen core models. Moreover, we find that all but one of the white dwarfs in our sample have radii consistent with possessing thick surface hydrogen envelopes ($10^{-5} \ge M_\mathrm{H}/M_\mathrm{WD} \ge 10^{-4}$), implying that the surface hydrogen layers of these white dwarfs are not obviously affected by common envelope evolution., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Using data from the extended Kepler mission in K2 Campaign 10 we identify two eclipsing binaries containing white dwarfs with cool companions that have extremely short orbital periods of only 71.2 min (SDSS J1205-0242, a.k.a. EPIC 201283111) and 72.5 min (SDSS J1231+0041, a.k.a. EPIC 248368963). Despite their short periods, both systems are detached with small, low-mass companions, in one case a brown dwarf, and the other case either a brown dwarf or a low-mass star. We present follow-up photometry and spectroscopy of both binaries, as well as phase-resolved spectroscopy of the brighter system, and use these data to place preliminary estimates on the physical and binary parameters. SDSS J1205-0242 is composed of a $0.39\pm0.02$M$_\odot$ helium-core white dwarf which is totally eclipsed by a $0.049\pm0.006$M$_\odot$ ($51\pm6$M$_J$) brown dwarf companion, while SDSS J1231+0041 is composed of a $0.56\pm0.07$M$_\odot$ white dwarf which is partially eclipsed by a companion of mass $\lesssim 0.095$M$_\odot$. In the case of SDSS J1205-0242 we look at the combined constraints from common-envelope evolution and brown dwarf models; the system is compatible with similar constraints from other post common-envelope binaries given the current parameter uncertainties, but has potential for future refinement., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have conducted a mini-survey for low-frequency radio emission from some of the closest brown dwarfs to the Sun with rapid rotation rates: SIMP J013656.5+093347, WISEPC J150649.97+702736.0, and WISEPA J174124.26+255319.5. We have placed robust 3-sigma upper limits on the flux density in the 111 - 169 MHz frequency range for these targets: WISE 1506: < 0.72 mJy; WISE 1741: < 0.87 mJy; SIMP 0136: < 0.66 mJy. At 8 hours of integration per target to achieve these limits, we find that systematic and detailed study of this class of object at LOFAR frequencies will require a substantial dedication of resources., Comment: 9 pages. MNRAS accepted

We obtained high-speed photometry of the disintegrating planetesimals orbiting the white dwarf WD1145+017, spanning a period of four weeks. The light curves show a dramatic evolution of the system since the first observations obtained about seven months ago. Multiple transit events are detected in every light curve, which have varying durations(~3-12min) and depths (~10-60%). The time-averaged extinction is ~11%, much higher than at the time of the Kepler observations. The shortest-duration transits require that the occulting cloud of debris has a few times the size of the white dwarf, longer events are often resolved into the superposition of several individual transits. The transits evolve on time scales of days, both in shape and in depth, with most of them gradually appearing and disappearing over the course of the observing campaign. Several transits can be tracked across multiple nights, all of them recur on periods of ~4.49h, indicating multiple planetary debris fragments on nearly identical orbits. Identifying the specific origin of these bodies within this planetary system, and the evolution leading to their current orbits remains a challenging problem., Comment: Astrophysical Journal Letters in press

The presence of a white dwarf in a resolved binary system, such as Sirius, provides an opportunity to combine dynamical information about the masses, from astrometry and spectroscopy, with a gravitational red-shift measurement and spectrophotometry of the white dwarf atmosphere to provide a test of theoretical mass-radius relations of unprecedented accuracy. We demonstrated this with the first Balmer line spectrum of Sirius B to be obtained free of contamination from the primary, with STIS on HST. However, we also found an unexplained discrepancy between the spectroscopic and gravitational red-shift mass determinations. With the recovery of STIS, we have been able to revisit our observations of Sirius B with an improved observation strategy designed to reduce systematic errors on the gravitational red-shift measurement. We provide a preliminary report on the refined precision of the Sirius B mass-radius measurements and the extension of this technique to a larger sample of white dwarfs in resolved binaries. Together these data can provide accurate mass and radius determinations capable of testing the theoretical mass-radius relation and distinguishing between possible structural models., Comment: To be published in the proceedings of the 19th European White Dwarf Workshop, Montreal, 2014

We present new observations of four closely-spaced NUV transits of the hot Jupiter-like exoplanet WASP-12b using HST/COS, significantly increasing the phase resolution of the observed NUV light curve relative to previous observations, while minimising the temporal variation of the system. We observe significant excess NUV absorption during the transit, with mean normalised in-transit fluxes of $F_\mathrm{norm}\simeq0.97$, i.e. $\simeq$2-5 $\sigma$ deeper than the optical transit level of $\simeq0.986$ for a uniform stellar disk (the exact confidence level depending on the normalisation method used). We further observe an asymmetric transit shape, such that the post-conjunction fluxes are overall $\simeq$2-3 $\sigma$ higher than pre-conjunction values, and characterised by rapid variations in count rate between the pre-conjunction and out of transit levels. We do not find evidence for an early ingress to the NUV transit as suggested by earlier HST observations. However, we show that the NUV count rate observed prior to the optical transit is highly variable, but overall $\simeq$2.2-3.0 $\sigma$ below the post-transit values and comparable in depth to the optical transit, possibly forming a variable region of NUV absorption from at least phase $\phi\simeq$0.83, limited by the data coverage., Comment: Accepted into the Astrophysical Journal

The discovery of almost 2000 exoplanets has revealed an unexpectedly diverse planet population. Observations to date have shown that our Solar System is certainly not representative of the general population of planets in our Milky Way. The key science questions that urgently need addressing are therefore: What are exoplanets made of? Why are planets as they are? What causes the exceptional diversity observed as compared to the Solar System? EChO (Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory) has been designed as a dedicated survey mission for transit and eclipse spectroscopy capable of observing a large and diverse planet sample within its four-year mission lifetime. EChO can target the atmospheres of super-Earths, Neptune-like, and Jupiter-like planets, in the very hot to temperate zones (planet temperatures of 300K-3000K) of F to M-type host stars. Over the next ten years, several new ground- and space-based transit surveys will come on-line (e.g. NGTS, CHEOPS, TESS, PLATO), which will specifically focus on finding bright, nearby systems. The current rapid rate of discovery would allow the target list to be further optimised in the years prior to EChO's launch and enable the atmospheric characterisation of hundreds of planets. Placing the satellite at L2 provides a cold and stable thermal environment, as well as a large field of regard to allow efficient time-critical observation of targets randomly distributed over the sky. A 1m class telescope is sufficiently large to achieve the necessary spectro-photometric precision. The spectral coverage (0.5-11 micron, goal 16 micron) and SNR to be achieved by EChO, thanks to its high stability and dedicated design, would enable a very accurate measurement of the atmospheric composition and structure of hundreds of exoplanets., Comment: 50 pages, 30 figures. Experimental Astronomy

WD0137-349 is a white dwarf-brown dwarf binary system in a 116 minute orbit. We present radial velocity observations and multiwaveband photometry from V, R and I in the optical, to J, H and Ks in the near-IR and [3.6], [4.5], [5.8] and [8.0] microns in the mid-IR. The photometry and lightcurves show variability in all wavebands, with the amplitude peaking at [4.5] microns, where the system is also brightest. Fluxes and brightness temperatures were computed for the heated and unheated atmosphere of the brown dwarf (WD0137-349B) using synthetic spectra of the white dwarf using model atmosphere simulations. We show that the flux from the brown dwarf dayside is brighter than expected in the Ks and [4.5] micron bands when compared to models of irradiated brown dwarfs with full energy circulation and suggest this over-luminosity may be attributed to H2 fluorescence or H3+ being generated in the atmosphere by the UV irradiation., Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present high time resolution SDSS-$g'$ and SDSS-$z'$ light curves of the primary eclipse in SDSS J141126.20+200911.1, together with time-resolved X-Shooter spectroscopy and near-infrared $JHK_{s}$ photometry. Our observations confirm the substellar nature of the companion, making SDSS J141126.20+200911.1 the first eclipsing white dwarf/brown dwarf binary known. We measure a (white dwarf model dependent) mass and radius for the brown dwarf companion of $M_{2} = 0.050 \pm 0.002$ $M_{\odot}$ and $R_{2} = 0.072 \pm 0.004$ $M_{\odot}$, respectively. The lack of a robust detection of the companion light in the $z'$-band eclipse constrains the spectral type of the companion to be later than L5. Comparing the NIR photometry to the expected white dwarf flux reveals a clear $K_s$-band excess, suggesting a spectral type in the range L7-T1. The radius measurement is consistent with the predictions of evolutionary models, and suggests a system age in excess of three Gyr. The low companion mass is inconsistent with the inferred spectral type of L7-T1, instead predicting a spectral type nearer T5. This indicates that irradiation of the companion in SDSS J1411 could be causing a significant temperature increase, at least on one hemisphere., Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have obtained low and medium resolution spectra of 9 brown dwarf candidate members of Coma Berenices and the Hyades using SpEX on the NASA InfaRed Telescope Facility and LIRIS on the William Herschel Telescope. We conclude that 7 of these objects are indeed late M or early L dwarfs, and that two are likely members of Coma Berenices, and four of the Hyades. Two objects, cbd40 and Hy3 are suggested to be a field L dwarfs, although there is also a possibility that Hy3 is an unresolved binary belonging to the cluster. These objects have masses between 71 and 53 M$_{\rm Jup}$, close to the hydrogen burning boundary for these clusters, however only an optical detection of Lithium can confirm if they are truly substellar., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present a spectroscopic component analysis of 18 candidate young, wide, non-magnetic, double-degenerate binaries identified from a search of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (DR7). All but two pairings are likely to be physical systems. We show SDSS J084952.47+471247.7 + SDSS J084952.87+471249.4 to be a wide DA+DB binary, only the second identified to date. Combining our measurements for the components of 16 new binaries with results for three similar, previously known systems within the DR7, we have constructed a mass distribution for the largest sample to date (38) of white dwarfs in young, wide, non-magnetic, double-degenerate pairings. This is broadly similar in form to that of the isolated field population with a substantial peak around M~0.6 Msun. We identify an excess of ultra-massive white dwarfs and attribute this to the primordial separation distribution of their progenitor systems peaking at relatively larger values and the greater expansion of their binary orbits during the final stages of stellar evolution. We exploit this mass distribution to probe the origins of unusual types of degenerates, confirming a mild preference for the progenitor systems of high-field-magnetic white dwarfs, at least within these binaries, to be associated with early-type stars. Additionally, we consider the 19 systems in the context of the stellar initial mass-final mass relation. None appear to be strongly discordant with current understanding of this relationship., Comment: 20 pages, 5 Tables, 7 figures. accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have observed the post common envelope binary WD0137-349 in the near infrared $J$, $H$ and $K$ bands and have determined that the photometry varies on the system period (116 min). The amplitude of the variability increases with increasing wavelength, indicating that the brown dwarf in the system is likely being irradiated by its 16500 K white dwarf companion. The effect of the (primarily) UV irradiation on the brown dwarf atmosphere is unknown, but it is possible that stratospheric hazes are formed. It is also possible that the brown dwarf (an L-T transition object) itself is variable due to patchy cloud cover. Both these scenarios are discussed, and suggestions for further study are made., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. Proceedings from "Brown dwarfs come of age" meeting in Fuerteventura 2013

Building on the experience of the high-resolution community with the suite of VLT high-resolution spectrographs, which has been tremendously successful, we outline here the (science) case for a high-fidelity, high-resolution spectrograph with wide wavelength coverage at the E-ELT. Flagship science drivers include: the study of exo-planetary atmospheres with the prospect of the detection of signatures of life on rocky planets; the chemical composition of planetary debris on the surface of white dwarfs; the spectroscopic study of protoplanetary and proto-stellar disks; the extension of Galactic archaeology to the Local Group and beyond; spectroscopic studies of the evolution of galaxies with samples that, unlike now, are no longer restricted to strongly star forming and/or very massive galaxies; the unraveling of the complex roles of stellar and AGN feedback; the study of the chemical signatures imprinted by population III stars on the IGM during the epoch of reionization; the exciting possibility of paradigm-changing contributions to fundamental physics. The requirements of these science cases can be met by a stable instrument with a spectral resolution of R~100,000 and broad, simultaneous spectral coverage extending from 370nm to 2500nm. Most science cases do not require spatially resolved information, and can be pursued in seeing-limited mode, although some of them would benefit by the E-ELT diffraction limited resolution. Some multiplexing would also be beneficial for some of the science cases. (Abridged), Comment: 49 pages, 16 figures, White Paper for E-ELT HIRES (a few typos corrected)

PLATO 2.0 has recently been selected for ESA's M3 launch opportunity (2022/24). Providing accurate key planet parameters (radius, mass, density and age) in statistical numbers, it addresses fundamental questions such as: How do planetary systems form and evolve? Are there other systems with planets like ours, including potentially habitable planets? The PLATO 2.0 instrument consists of 34 small aperture telescopes (32 with 25 sec readout cadence and 2 with 2.5 sec candence) providing a wide field-of-view (2232 deg2) and a large photometric magnitude range (4-16 mag). It focusses on bright (4-11 mag) stars in wide fields to detect and characterize planets down to Earth-size by photometric transits, whose masses can then be determined by ground-based radial-velocity follow-up measurements. Asteroseismology will be performed for these bright stars to obtain highly accurate stellar parameters, including masses and ages. The combination of bright targets and asteroseismology results in high accuracy for the bulk planet parameters: 2%, 4-10% and 10% for planet radii, masses and ages, respectively. The planned baseline observing strategy includes two long pointings (2-3 years) to detect and bulk characterize planets reaching into the habitable zone (HZ) of solar-like stars and an additional step-and-stare phase to cover in total about 50% of the sky. PLATO 2.0 will observe up to 1,000,000 stars and detect and characterize hundreds of small planets, and thousands of planets in the Neptune to gas giant regime out to the HZ. It will therefore provide the first large-scale catalogue of bulk characterized planets with accurate radii, masses, mean densities and ages. This catalogue will include terrestrial planets at intermediate orbital distances, where surface temperatures are moderate. Coverage of this parameter range with statistical numbers of bulk characterized planets is unique to PLATO 2.0., Comment: 63 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Experimental Astronomy (ExA)

Approximately 70 percent of the nearby white dwarfs appear to be single stars, with the remainder being members of binary or multiple star systems. The most numerous and most easily identifiable systems are those in which the main sequence companion is an M star, since even if the systems are unresolved the white dwarf either dominates or is at least competitive with the luminosity of the companion at optical wavelengths. Harder to identify are systems where the non-degenerate component has a spectral type earlier than M0 and the white dwarf becomes the less luminous component. Taking Sirius as the prototype, these latter systems are referred to here as Sirius-Like. There are currently 98 known Sirius-Like systems. Studies of the local white dwarf population within 20 parsecs indicate that approximately 8 per cent of all white dwarfs are members of Sirius-Like systems, yet beyond 20 parsecs the frequency of known Sirius-Like systems declines to between 1 and 2 per cent, indicating that many more of these systems remain to be found. Estimates are provided for the local space density of Sirius- Like systems and their relative frequency among both the local white dwarf population and the local population of A to K main sequence stars. The great majority of currently unidentified Sirius-Like systems will likely turn out to be closely separated and unresolved binaries. Ways to observationally detect and study these systems are discussed., Comment: 20 pages, 2 figures

A surprisingly large fraction (70%) of hot, carbon dominated atmosphere (DQ) white dwarfs are magnetic and/or photometrically variable on short timescales up to ~1000 s. However, here we show that the hot DQ magnetic white dwarf SDSS J000555.90-100213.5 is photometrically variable by 11% on a longer timescale, with a period of 2.110 +/- 0.045 days. We find no evidence of the target fluctuating on short timescales at an amplitude of <+/-0.5%. Short period hot DQ white dwarfs have been interpreted as non-radial pulsators, but in the case of SDSS J0005-1002, it is more likely that the variability is due to the magnetic hot DQ white dwarf rotating. We suggest that some hot DQ white dwarfs, varying on short timescales, should be more carefully examined to ascertain whether the variability is due to rotation rather than pulsation. All hot DQs should be monitored for long period modulations as an indicator of rotation and magnetism., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

This paper presents new observations of the planet-hosting, visual binary GJ 86 (HR 637) using the Hubble Space Telescope. Ultraviolet and optical imaging with WFC3 confirms the stellar companion is a degenerate star and indicates the binary semimajor axis is larger than previous estimates, with a > 28 AU. Optical STIS spectroscopy of the secondary reveals a helium-rich white dwarf with C2 absorption bands and Teff = 8180 K, thus making the binary system rather similar to Procyon. Based on the 10.8 pc distance, the companion has 0.59 Msun and descended from a main-sequence A star of 1.9 Msun with an original orbital separation a > 14 AU. If the giant planet is coplanar with the binary, the mass of GJ 86Ab is between 4.4 and 4.7 MJup. The similarity of GJ 86 and Procyon prompted a re-analysis of the white dwarf in the latter system, with the tentative conclusion that Procyon hosts a planetesimal population. The periastron distance in Procyon is 20% smaller than in alpha Cen AB, but the metal-enriched atmosphere of Procyon B indicates that the planet formation process minimally attained 25 km bodies, if not small planets as in alpha Cen., Comment: Accepted to MNRAS, 9 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables

We have spectroscopically confirmed a brown dwarf mass companion to the hydrogen atmosphere white dwarf NLTT5306. The white dwarf's atmospheric parameters were measured using Sloan Digital Sky Survey and X-Shooter spectroscopy as T_eff=7756+/-35K and log(g)=7.68+/-0.08, giving a mass for the primary of M_WD=0.44+/-0.04 M_sun, at a distance of 71+/-4 pc with a cooling age of 710+/-50 Myr. The existence of the brown dwarf secondary was confirmed through the near-infrared arm of the X-Shooter data and a spectral type of dL4-dL7 was estimated using standard spectral indices. Combined radial velocity measurements from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, X-Shooter and the Hobby-Eberly Telescope's High Resolution Spectrograph of the white dwarf gives a minimum mass of 56+/-3 M_jup for the secondary, confirming the substellar nature. The period of the binary was measured as 101.88+/-0.02 mins using both the radial velocity data and i'-band variability detected with the INT. This variability indicates 'day' side heating of the brown dwarf companion. We also observe H{\alpha} emission in our higher resolution data in phase with the white dwarf radial velocity, indicating this system is in a low level of accretion, most likely via a stellar wind. This system represents the shortest period white dwarf + brown dwarf binary and the secondary has survived a stage of common envelope evolution, much like its longer period counterpart, WD0137-349. Both systems likely represent bona-fide progenitors of cataclysmic variables with a low mass white dwarf and a brown dwarf donor., Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

A number of ultra-cool dwarfs emit circularly polarised radio waves generated by the electron cyclotron maser instability. In the solar system such radio is emitted from regions of strong auroral magnetic field-aligned currents. We thus apply ideas developed for Jupiter's magnetosphere, being a well-studied rotationally-dominated analogue in our solar system, to the case of fast-rotating UCDs. We explain the properties of the radio emission from UCDs by showing that it would arise from the electric currents resulting from an angular velocity shear in the fast-rotating magnetic field and plasma, i.e. by an extremely powerful analogue of the process which causes Jupiter's auroras. Such a velocity gradient indicates that these bodies interact significantly with their space environment, resulting in intense auroral emissions. These results strongly suggest that auroras occur on bodies outside our solar system., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

There is a striking and unexplained dearth of brown dwarf companions in close orbits (< 3AU) around stars more massive than the Sun, in stark contrast to the frequency of stellar and planetary companions. Although rare and relatively short-lived, these systems leave detectable evolutionary end points in the form of white dwarf - brown dwarf binaries and these remnants can offer unique insights into the births and deaths of their parent systems. We present the discovery of a close (orbital separation ~ 0.006 AU) substellar companion to a massive white dwarf member of the Praesepe star cluster. Using the cluster age and the mass of the white dwarf we constrain the mass of the white dwarf progenitor star to lie in the range 3.5 - 3.7 Msun (B9). The high mass of the white dwarf means the substellar companion must have been engulfed by the B star's envelope while it was on the late asymptotic giant branch (AGB). Hence, the initial separation of the system was ~2 AU, with common envelope evolution reducing the separation to its current value. The initial and final orbital separations allow us to constrain the combination of the common envelope efficiency (alpha) and binding energy parameters (lambda) for the AGB star to alpha lambda ~3. We examine the various formation scenarios and conclude that the substellar object was most likely to have been captured by the white dwarf progenitor early in the life of the cluster, rather than forming in situ., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL

We report the results of a CCD imaging survey, complimented by astrometric and spectroscopic follow-up studies, that aims to probe the fate of heavy-weight intermediate mass stars by unearthing new, faint, white dwarf members of the rich, nearby, intermediate age open clusters NGC3532 and NGC2287. We identify a total of four white dwarfs with distances, proper motions and cooling times which can be reconciled with membership of these populations. We find that WDJ0643-203 in NGC2287, with an estimated mass of M=1.02-1.16Msun, is potentially the most massive white dwarf so far identified within an open cluster. Guided by the predictions of modern theoretical models of the late-stage evolution of heavy-weight intermediate mass stars, we conclude that there is a distinct possibility it has a core composed of O and Ne. We also determine that despite the cooling times of the three new white dwarfs in NGC3532 and the previously known degenerate member NGC3532-10 spanning ~90Myr, they all have remarkably similar masses (M~0.9-1Msun). This is fully consistent with the results from our prior work on a heterogeneous sample of ~50 white dwarfs from 12 stellar populations, on the basis of which we argued that the stellar initial mass-final mass relation is less steep at Minit>4Msun than in the adjacent lower initial mass regime. This change in the gradient of the relation could account for the secondary peak observed in the mass distribution of the field white dwarf population and mitigate the need to invoke close binary evolution to explain its existence. Spectroscopic investigation of numerous additional candidate white dwarf members of NGC3532 unearthed by a recent independent study would be useful to confirm (or otherwise) these conclusions., Comment: 8 Figures, 8 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have analysed a sample of 23 hot DAs to better understand the source of the circumstellar features reported in previous work. Unambiguous detections of circumstellar material are again made at eight stars. The velocities of the circumstellar material at three of the white dwarfs are coincident with the radial velocities of ISM along the sight line to the stars, suggesting that the objects may be ionising the ISM in their locality. In three further cases, the circumstellar velocities are close to the ISM velocities, indicating that these objects are either ionising the ISM, or evaporated planetesimals/material in a circumstellar disc. The circumstellar velocity at WD 1614-084 lies far from the ISM velocities, indicating either the ionisation of an undetected ISM component or circumstellar material. The material seen at WD 0232+035 can be attributed to the photoionisation of material lost from its M dwarf companion. The measured column densities of the circumstellar material lie within the ionised ISM column density ranges predicted to exist in hot DA Stromgren spheres., Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We report the serendipitous discovery from WASP archive photometry of a binary star in which an apparently normal A-type star (J0247-25A) eclipses a smaller, hotter subdwarf star (J0247-25B). The kinematics of J0247-25A show that it is a blue-straggler member of the Galactic thick-disk. We present follow-up photometry and spectroscopy from which we derive approximate values for the mass, radius and luminosity for J0247-25B assuming that J0247-25A has the mass appropriate for a normal thick-disk star. We find that the properties of J0247-25B are well matched by models for a red giant stripped of its outer layers and currently in a shell hydrogen-burning stage. In this scenario, J0247-25B will go on to become a low mass white dwarf (M~0.25 solar masses) composed mostly of helium. J0247-25B can be studied in much greater detail than the handful of pre helium white dwarfs (pre-He-WD) identified to-date. These results have been published by Maxted et al., 2011. We also present a preliminary analysis of more recent observations of J0247-25 with the UVES spectrograph, from which we derive much improved masses for both stars in the binary. We find that both stars are more massive than expected and that J0247-25A rotates sub-synchronously by a factor of about 2. We also present lightcurves for 5 new eclipsing pre-He-WD subsequently identified from the WASP archive photometry, 4 of which have mass estimates for the subdwarf companion based on a pair of radial velocity measurements., Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the Fifth Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related Objects (sdOB5), 25 - 29 July 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa. ASP Conference Series. 10 pages, 8 figures

This paper reports follow-up photometric and spectroscopic observations, including warm Spitzer IRAC photometry of seven white dwarfs from the SDSS with apparent excess flux in UKIDSS K-band observations. Six of the science targets were selected from 16,785 DA star candidates identified either spectroscopically or photometrically within SDSS DR7, spatially cross-correlated with HK detections in UKIDSS DR8. Thus the selection criteria are completely independent of stellar mass, effective temperature above 8000 K, and the presence (or absence) of atmospheric metals. The infrared fluxes of one target are compatible with a spatially-unresolved late M or early L-type companion, while three stars exhibit excess emissions consistent with warm circumstellar dust. These latter targets have spectral energy distributions similar to known dusty white dwarfs with high fractional infrared luminosities (thus the K-band excesses). Optical spectroscopy reveals the stars with disk-like excesses are polluted with heavy elements, denoting the ongoing accretion of circumstellar material. One of the disks exhibits a gaseous component - the fourth reported to date - and orbits a relatively cool star, indicating the gas is produced via collisions as opposed to sublimation, supporting the picture of a recent event. The resulting statistics yield a lower limit of 0.8% for the fraction dust disks at DA-type white dwarfs with cooling ages less than 1 Gyr. Two overall results are noteworthy: all stars whose excess infrared emission is consistent with dust are metal-rich; and no stars warmer than 25,000 K are found to have this type of excess, despite sufficient sensitivity., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables. Accepted to MNRAS

We use a combination of X-shooter spectroscopy, ULTRACAM high-speed photometry and SOFI near-infrared photometry to measure the masses and radii of both components of the eclipsing post common envelope binaries SDSS J1212-0123 and GK Vir. For both systems we measure the gravitational redshift of the white dwarf and combine it with light curve model fits to determine the inclinations, masses and radii. For SDSS J1212-0123 we find a white dwarf mass and radius of 0.439 +/- 0.002 Msun and 0.0168 +/- 0.0003 Rsun, and a secondary star mass and radius of 0.273 +/- 0.002 Msun and 0.306 +/- 0.007 Rsun. For GK Vir we find a white dwarf mass and radius of 0.564 +/- 0.014 Msun and 0.0170 +/- 0.0004 Rsun, and a secondary star mass and radius of 0.116 +/- 0.003 Msun and 0.155 +/- 0.003 Rsun. The mass and radius of the white dwarf in GK Vir are consistent with evolutionary models for a 50,000K carbon-oxygen core white dwarf. Although the mass and radius of the white dwarf in SDSS J1212-0123 are consistent with carbon-oxygen core models, evolutionary models imply that a white dwarf with such a low mass and in a short period binary must have a helium core. The mass and radius measurements are consistent with helium core models but only if the white dwarf has a very thin hydrogen envelope, which has not been predicted by evolutionary models. The mass and radius of the secondary star in GK Vir are consistent with evolutionary models after correcting for the effects of irradiation by the white dwarf. The secondary star in SDSS J1212-0123 has a radius ~9 per cent larger than predicted., Comment: 21 pages, 14 Figures and 11 Tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have identified a star in the WASP archive photometry with an unusual lightcurve due to the total eclipse of a small, hot star by an apparently normal A-type star and with an orbital period of only 0.668d. From an analysis of the WASP lightcurve together with V-band and I_C-band photometry of the eclipse and a spectroscopic orbit for the A-type star we estimate that the companion star has a mass of (0.23+-0.03)Msun and a radius of (0.33+-0.01)Rsun, assuming that the A-type star is a main-sequence star with the metalicity appropriate for a thick-disk star. The effective temperature of the companion is (13400+-1200)K from which we infer a luminosity of (3+-1)Lsun. From a comparison of these parameters to various models we conclude that the companion is most likely to be the remnant of a red giant star that has been very recently stripped of its outer layers by mass transfer onto the A-type star. In this scenario, the companion is currently in a shell hydrogen-burning phase of its evolution, evolving at nearly constant luminosity to hotter effective temperatures prior to ceasing hydrogen burning and fading to become a low-mass white dwarf composed of helium (He-WD). The system will then resemble the pre-He-WD/He-WD companions to A-type and B-type stars recently identified from their Kepler satellite lightcurves (KOI-74, KOI-81 and KIC10657664). This newly discovered binary offers the opportunity to study the evolution of a stripped red giant star through the pre-He-WD stage in great detail., Comment: Accepted (subject to minor revision) for publication in MNRAS. This is the re-submitted revised version

We present a near-infrared photometric search for unresolved substellar companions and debris disks around white dwarfs in the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey Large Area Survey. We cross-correlate the SDSS DR4 and McCook & Sion catalogues of white dwarfs with the UKIDSS DR8 producing 3109 and 163 unique matches respectively. Cooling models are fitted to the optical photometry of a subsample of DA white dwarfs and extended to the near-infrared. A comparison is then made with the observed photometry to identify those stars with a near-infrared excess consistent with the presence of a cool companion or debris disk. Where present, we have estimated the approximate spectral type of any putative companion, or an upper limit on the temperature of a debris disk. In total we identify 14-16 new candidate white dwarf + very low mass stellar systems, 9-11 candidate white dwarf + brown dwarf systems, and 3 candidate white dwarf + debris disks. We place lower limits on the unresolved (<2") companions to all DA white dwarfs and thus assess the sensitivity of UKIDSS to such objects. We use this result to estimate unresolved binary fractions of f(WD+dL)>0.4+/-0.3%, f(WD+dT)>0.2% and f(WD+BD)>0.5+/-0.3%., Comment: 26 pages, 17 figures (+ 30 appendix figures), 10 tables. Accepted MNRAS June 10th 2011