Detection of Ongoing Mass Loss from HD 63433c, a Young Mini Neptune

Abstract

We detect Lyman α absorption from the escaping atmosphere of HD 63433c, a R = 2.67 R_⊕, P = 20.5 d mini Neptune orbiting a young (440 Myr) solar analogue in the Ursa Major Moving Group. Using HST/STIS, we measure a transit depth of 11.1 ± 1.5% in the blue wing and 8±3% in the red. This signal is unlikely to be due to stellar variability, but should be confirmed by an upcoming second visit with HST. We do not detect Lyman α absorption from the inner planet, a smaller R = 2.15 R_⊕ mini Neptune on a 7.1 d orbit. We use Keck/NIRSPEC to place an upper limit of 0.5% on helium absorption for both planets. We measure the host star's X-ray spectrum and FUV flux with XMM-Newton, and model the outflow from both planets using a 3D hydrodynamic code. This model provides a reasonable match to the light curve in the blue wing of the Lyman α line and the helium non-detection for planet c, although it does not explain the tentative red wing absorption or reproduce the excess absorption spectrum in detail. Its predictions of strong Lyman α and helium absorption from b are ruled out by the observations. This model predicts a much shorter mass loss timescale for planet b, suggesting that b and c are fundamentally different: while the latter still retains its hydrogen/helium envelope, the former has likely lost its primordial atmosphere.

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