The atmospheric composition of TOI-270 d

Abstract

The first explorations of temperate sub-Neptune exoplanets have been the hallmark of early JWST observations. The bulk properties of such planets are consistent with a range of possible internal structures, which can be distinguished through their interactions with the observable atmospheres. JWST observations of TOI-270 d, a temperate sub-Neptune, have previously led to contrasting conclusions: either a Hycean world, possessing a liquid water ocean, or a mixed-envelope sub-Neptune, where high temperatures prevent a liquid ocean and lead to a high mean molecular weight atmosphere. In order to resolve this uncertainty, we present a comprehensive retrieval analysis of TOI-270 d using recent NIRISS and NIRSpec transit spectroscopy across ∼1–5 µm. We find that prior inferences of a mixed envelope were affected by specific modelling choices leading to a high terminator temperature and high mean-molecular weight in the atmosphere. We confirm an H2-rich atmosphere in TOI-270 d and present revised constraints on the molecular log-mixing ratios and maximal detection significances of −1.86−0.29+0.30 (6.4σ) CO2 at −1.71−0.66+0.38 (3.9σ), H2O at.−1.88−4.13+0.78(2.1σ) and CS2 at −4.74−1.10+0.65(2.0σ), with a terminator temperature of 323−52+58 K at 10 mbar.We also find tentative evidence for more complex methyl-bearing species such as C2H6 and/or DMS at a 2.1–2.5 σ level. The present constraints are consistent with TOI-270 d being a Hycean or dark Hycean world, with planet-wide or nightside liquid water oceans. However, more observations are required to verify the present findings and robustly constrain the atmospheric conditions and internal structure of TOI-270 d.