Measurement of the spin-orbit misalignment of KOI-13.01 from its gravity-darkened Kepler transit lightcurve

Abstract

We model the asymmetry of the KOI-13.01 transit lightcurve assuming a gravity-darkened rapidly rotating host star in order to constrain the system's spin-orbit alignment and transit parameters. We find that our model can reproduce the Kepler lightcurve for KOI-13.01 with a sky-projected alignment of λ = 23° 4° and with the star's north pole tilted away from the observer by 48° 4° (assuming M * = 2.05 M ⊙). With both these determinations, we calculate that the net misalignment between this planet's orbit normal and its star's rotational pole is 56° ± 4°. Degeneracies in our geometric interpretation also allow a retrograde spin-orbit angle of 124° ± 4°. This is the first spin-orbit measurement to come from gravity darkening and is one of only a few measurements of the full (not just the sky-projected) spin-orbit misalignment of an extrasolar planet. We also measure accurate transit parameters incorporating stellar oblateness and gravity darkening: R * = 1.756 ± 0.014 R⊙, R p = 1.445 ± 0.016 RJup, and i = 859 04. The new lower planetary radius falls within the planetary mass regime for plausible interior models for the transiting body. A simple initial calculation shows that KOI-13.01's circular orbit is apparently inconsistent with the Kozai mechanism having driven its spin-orbit misalignment; planet-planet scattering and stellar spin migration remain viable mechanisms. Future Kepler data will improve the precision of the KOI-13.01 transit lightcurve, allowing more precise determination of transit parameters and the opportunity to use the Photometric Rossiter-McLaughlin effect to resolve the prograde/retrograde orbit determination degeneracy. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.