DMPP-3: confirmation of short-period S-type planet(s) in a compact eccentric binary star system, and warnings about long-period RV planet detections

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2023-05, Vol.523 (1), p.189-207
• Main Authors: Stevenson, Adam T, Haswell, Carole A, Barnes, John R, Barstow, Joanna K, Ross, Zachary O B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0035-8711; 1365-2966
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stad1441

ABSTRACT We present additional HARPS radial velocity observations of the highly eccentric (e ∼ 0.6) binary system DMPP-3AB, which comprises a K0V primary and a low-mass companion at the hydrogen burning limit. The binary has a 507 d orbital period and a 1.2 au semimajor axis. The primary component harbours a known 2.2 M⊕ planet, DMPP-3A b, with a 6.67-d orbit. New HARPS measurements constrain periastron passage for the binary orbit and add further integrity to previously derived solutions for both companion and planet orbits. Gaia astrometry independently confirms the binary orbit and establishes the inclination of the binary is 63.89 ± 0.78°. We performed dynamical simulations that establish that the previously identified ∼800 d RV signal cannot be attributed to an orbiting body. The additional observations, a deviation from strict periodicity, and our new analyses of activity indicators suggest the ∼800 d signal is caused by stellar activity. We conclude that there may be long-period planet ‘detections’ in other systems, which are similar misinterpreted stellar activity artefacts. Without the unusual eccentric binary companion to the planet-hosting star, we could have accepted the ∼800 d signal as a probable planet. Further monitoring of DMPP-3 will reveal which signatures can be used to most efficiently identify these imposters. We also report a threshold detection (0.2 per cent FAP) of a ∼2.26 d periodicity in the RVs, potentially attributed to an Earth-mass S-type planet interior to DMPP-3A b.