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Physics Astrophysics

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Monday 17 November

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

TOI-333b: A Neptune Desert planet around a F7V star

Observations have shown that planets similar to Neptune are rarely found orbiting Sun-like stars with periods up to ~4 days, defining the so-called Neptune desert region. Therefore, the detection of each individual planet in this region holds a high value, providing detailed insights into how such a population came to form and evolve. Here we report the detection of TOI-333b, a Neptune desert planet with a mass, radius, and bulk density of 20.1 $\pm$ 2.4 M$_{\oplus}$, 4.26 $\pm$ 0.11 R$_{\oplus}$, and 1.42 $\pm$ 0.21 \gccc, respectively. The planet orbits a F7V star every 3.78 d, whose mass, radius and effective temperature are of 1.2 $\pm$ 0.1 \msun, 1.10 $\pm$ 0.03 \rsun, and 6241$^{+73}_{-62}$ K, respectively. TOI-333b is likely younger than 1 Gyr, which is supported by the presence of the doublet Li line around 6707.856 textup{~Å} and its comparison to Li abundances in open clusters with well constrained ages. The planet is expected to host only 8.5$^{+10.9}_{-8.3}\%$ gas-to-core mass ratio for a H/He envelope. On the other hand, irradiated ocean world models predict 20$^{+11}_{-10}\%$ H$_2$O mass fraction with a core fraction of 35$^{+20}_{-23}\%$. Therefore, we expect that TOI-333b internal composition may be dominated by a pure rocky composition with almost no H/He envelope, or a rocky world with almost equal mass fraction of water. Finally, TOI-333b is more massive and larger than 77$\%$ and 82$\%$ of its Neptune desert counterparts, respectively, while its host ranks among the hottest known for Neptune Desert planets, making this system a unique laboratory to study the evolution of such planets around hot stars.
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All authors Douglas R. Alves, James S. Jenkins, José I. Vinés, Maximilano Moyano, David R. Anderson, Christian Magliano, Giovanni Covone, Keivan G. Stassun, Abderahmane Soubkiou, Edward Gillen, Matthew P. Battley, Alexander Hughes, David J. Armstrong, Suman Saha, Faith Hawthorn, Peter J. Wheatley, Karen A. Collins, Richard P. Schwarz, Gregor Srdoc, Ioannis Apergis, Tafadzwa Zivave, Monika Lendl, Benjamin M. Tofflemire, John P. Doty, Christina Hedges, Ismael Mireles, Matthew R. Burleigh, Alicia Kendall, George T. Harvey, Michael R. Goad, Sarah L. Casewell, Troy Edkins

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

The atmospheric composition of TOI-270 d

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 $\sim$1-5 $\mu$m. 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 H$_2$-rich atmosphere in TOI-270 d and present revised constraints on the molecular log-mixing ratios and maximal detection significances of CH$_4$ at $-1.86^{+0.30}_{-0.29}$ (6.4 $\sigma$), CO$_2$ at $-1.71^{+0.38}_{-0.66}$ (3.9 $\sigma$), H$_2$O at $-1.88^{+0.78}_{-4.13}$ (2.1 $\sigma$) and CS$_2$ at $-4.74^{+0.65}_{-1.10}$ (2.0 $\sigma$), with a terminator temperature of $323^{+58}_{-52}$ K at 10 mbar. We also find tentative evidence for more complex methyl-bearing species such as C$_2$H$_6$ and/or DMS at a 2.1-2.5 $\sigma$ 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.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

The observed total star formation rate function up to z \sim 6: complementary UV and IR contributions and comparison with state-of-the-art galaxy formation models

We investigate how the obscured IR-derived and the dust-corrected UV star formation rate functions (SFRFs) compare with each other, and with predictions from state-of-the-art theoretical models of galaxy formation and evolution. We derive the IR-SFRF from the ALMA A$^3$COSMOS survey, by converting the IR luminosity functions (IR-LFs) into SFRF after correcting for AGN contribution. Similarly, we obtain the UV SFRFs from literature UV LFs, corrected for dust-extinction. First, we fit the two SFRFs independently via a MCMC approach, then we combine them to obtain the first estimate of the total SFRF out to $z \sim 6$. Finally, we compare this SFRF with the predictions of a set of theoretical models. We derived the UV (dust-extinction corrected, from literature UV-LFs) and IR SFRFs (from Herschel and ALMA IR-LFs) at $0.5 < z < 6$ , finding that they are mostly complementary, covering different ranges in star formation rate (SFR$ < 10-100$ M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$ for the UV-corrected and SFR$ > 100$ M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$ for the IR). From the comparison of the total SFRF with model predictions we find an overall good agreement at $z < 2.5$, with increasing difference at higher redshifts, with all models missing the galaxies that are forming stars with the highest SFRs. We finally obtained the UV (dust-corrected), IR and total star formation rate densities (SFRDs), finding that there are no redshift ranges where UV and IR alone are able to reproduce the whole total SFRD.
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All authors A. Traina, C. Gruppioni, I. Delvecchio, B. Magnelli, F. Calura, L. Bisigello, A. Feltre, L. Vallini, G. De Lucia, F. Fontanot, M. Hirschmann, A. Katsianis, M. Parente, O. Cucciati, L. Xie, E. Schinnerer, D. Liu, S. Adscheid, H. S. B. Algera, M. Behiri, F. Gentile, S. Gillman, F. Pozzi, G. Zamorani

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Aletheia: Emulating the non-linear matter power spectrum in the context of evolution mapping

We present Aletheia, a new emulator of the non-linear matter power spectrum, $P(k)$, built upon the evolution mapping framework. This framework addresses the limitations of traditional emulation by focusing on $h$-independent cosmological parameters, which can be separated into those defining the linear power spectrum shape ($\mathbf{\Theta}_{\mathrm{s}}$) and those affecting only its amplitude evolution ($\mathbf{\Theta}_{\mathrm{e}}$). The combined impact of evolution parameters and redshift is compressed into a single amplitude parameter, $\sigma_{12}$. Aletheia uses a two-stage Gaussian Process emulation: a primary emulator predicts the non-linear boost factor as a function of ($\mathbf{\Theta}_{\mathrm{s}}$) and $\sigma_{12}$ for fixed evolution parameters, while a second one applies a small linear correction based on the integrated growth history. The emulator is trained on shape parameters spanning $\pm$5$\sigma$ of Planck constraints and a wide clustering range $0.2 < \sigma_{12} < 1.0$, providing predictions for $0.006\,{\rm Mpc}^{-1} < k < 2\,{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$. We validate Aletheia against N-body simulations, demonstrating sub-percent accuracy. When tested on a suite of dynamic dark energy models, the full emulator's predictions show a variance of approximately 0.2%, a factor of five smaller than that of the state-of-the-art EuclidEmulator2 (around 1% variance). Furthermore, Aletheia maintains sub-percent accuracy for the best-fit dynamic dark energy cosmology from recent DESI data, a model whose parameters lie outside the training ranges of most conventional emulators. This demonstrates the power of the evolution mapping approach, providing a robust and extensible tool for precision cosmology.
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All authors Ariel G. Sanchez, Andrés N. Ruiz, Facundo Rodriguez, Carlos Correa, Andrea Fiorilli, Matteo Esposito, Jenny Gonzalez-Jara, Nelson D. Padilla, Alejandro Pérez-Fernández, Sofia Contarini

Astrophysics of Galaxies

Robust galaxy image decompositions with Differential Evolution optimisation and the problem of classical bulges in and beyond the nearby Universe

Deconstructing galaxies through two-dimensional decompositions has been shown to be a powerful technique to derive the physical properties of stellar structures in galaxies. However, most studies employ fitting algorithms that are prone to be trapped in local minima, or involve subjective choices. Furthermore, when applied on samples beyond the nearby Universe, results on the fraction of classical bulges in disc galaxies do not agree with studies on nearby galaxies. The latter studies point to a small fraction of classical bulges, possibly challenging our merger-driven picture of galaxy formation. Therefore, understanding the discrepancy between observations in and beyond the nearby Universe is of paramount importance. In this paper, I use a sample of 16 nearby galaxies drawn from the TIMER project, which previously have been shown to not host classical bulges, and perform decompositions applying different methodologies and employing the original images as well as artificially redshifted images. I show that the Differential Evolution algorithm is able to provide accurate measurements of structural properties with little subjective intervention, correctly indicating the presence of nuclear discs (not classical bulges). However, I also show that when the physical spatial resolution is not adequate, a systematic overestimation of the photometric bulge Sérsic index leads to the false conclusion of the presence of classical bulges. I discuss how this may be the root cause of the discrepancy mentioned above, and point out how this issue may be a problem even with data from facilities such as Euclid, HST and JWST.
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High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Hierarchical Black Hole Mergers in Nuclear Star Clusters: A Combined Dynamical-Secular Channel for GW231123-like Events

The recent binary black hole (BH) merger GW231123, with both components likely in the high-mass gap and with high spins, challenges standard BH binary formation models. It is usually thought that the BHs are of second (or higher) generation (2G), resulting from the mergers of smaller BHs. But the physical processes that produce the merging 2G BH binaries are unclear and highly unconstrained. We show that such 2G mergers can be naturally produced in the nuclear star cluster of Milky Way-like galaxy. The dominant channel combines a sequence of binary-single interactions with secular evolution driven by the central supermassive BH. Our model produces a merger rate consistent with GW231123 and further predicts an abundant population of 2G BH-star (or low-mass BH) binaries; these binaries may observationally manifest as micro tidal disruption events or low-frequency gravitational-wave (GW) sources. Detecting these binaries would provide crucial insights into the dynamical pathways of hierarchical BH assembly.
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High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Galaxy Mergers Collectively Illuminate the $\gamma$-Ray Sky

The origin and acceleration mechanism of cosmic rays (CRs) remain fundamental open questions. Galaxy mergers are proposed as very high-energy CR accelerators, which are expected to produce high-energy (HE) $\gamma$ rays and neutrinos through interactions with the ambient gas and low-energy background radiation fields. For the first time, we systematically study the HE $\gamma$-ray emission from galaxy mergers utilising 16.7 years of Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT) data with the sample list compiled from eight survey catalogs. Our analysis finds 8 galaxy mergers that exhibit $\gamma$-ray emission with significance $\gtrsim5\sigma$ in the 1-500 GeV energy range. A stacking analysis of the remaining faint galaxy mergers yields a combined $\gamma$-ray emission detected at $\sim 35\sigma$ significance, a best-fit spectral index of $\Gamma \approx 2.07$, and an energy flux of $\sim \rm 2\times10^{-14}~erg~cm^{-2}~s^{-1}$. We compare the stacked spectral energy distributions of the galaxy mergers with the projected sensitivity of the upcoming $\gamma$-ray telescope Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). Furthermore, we find that 18 previously unassociated Fermi-LAT sources are spatially coincident with galaxy mergers. Our findings establish galaxy mergers as a new class of HE $\gamma$-ray sources. Future neutrino and $\gamma$-ray observatories will be crucial to discover the particle acceleration mechanism in these newly identified CR sources.
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All authors Jaya Doliya, Deep Jyoti Das, Subhadip Bouri, Pooja Bhattacharjee, Mousumi Das, Ranjan Laha

Astrophysics of Galaxies

A Deep Chandra View of Abell 2597: Bubbles, Shocks, Cold Fueling, and a Plasma Depletion Layer

To examine how AGN feedback shapes the intracluster medium (ICM) and fuels black hole accretion in the cool-core galaxy cluster Abell 2597, we present deep ($\sim$600 ks) Chandra X-ray observations complemented by archival GMRT radio and SINFONI near-infrared data. Radio-mode AGN activity has inflated seven X-ray cavities and driven one to three potential weak shocks ($M \sim 1.05-1.14$) extending to $\sim 150$ kpc, suggesting recurrent outbursts occurring on $\sim 10^7$ year timescales. We also detect a narrow, $\sim$57 kpc X-ray surface brightness deficit-a potential plasma depletion layer-likely shaped by residual sloshing motions that amplified magnetic fields and/or displaced gas within the cluster core. Although the AGN injects $\sim 10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$ of energy, comparable to the cluster's cooling luminosity, radiative cooling persists at $\sim$15 M$_{\odot} $yr$^{-1}$, replenishing the billion solar mass cold gas reservoir at the heart of the brightest cluster galaxy. Sustaining this level of activity requires a continuous fuel supply, yet the estimated Bondi accretion power ($\sim 2 \times 10^{43}$ erg s$^{-1}$) falls an order of magnitude short of the observed cavity power, suggesting that "hot" gas fueling is insufficient. Instead, archival ALMA observations continue to support a chaotic cold accretion scenario, where turbulence-driven condensation fuels the AGN at rates exceeding Bondi accretion, sustaining a self-regulated feedback cycle that repeatedly shapes the core of Abell 2597.
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All authors Osase Omoruyi, Grant Tremblay, Stefi A. Baum, Tracy E. Clarke, Pratik Dabhade, Andrew Fabian, Massimo Gaspari, Sanna Gulati, Preeti Kharb, Maxim Markevitch, Paul Nulsen, Christopher P. O'Dea, Scott Randall, Somak Raychaudhury, Sravani Vaddi, Alexey Vikhlinin, John Zuhone

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Cross-listed from hep-ph

Stripped-Envelope Supernovae for QCD Axion Detection

QCD axions would be copiously produced in the proto-neutron star formed in a core-collapse supernova (SN). After escaping, they would convert into gamma rays in the Galactic magnetic field and, as recently shown, in that of the progenitor star itself. Here, we show that Type Ibc SNe – whose progenitors have lost their hydrogen or even helium envelopes – are the optimal targets for this search. The stripped progenitors are much more compact, and they show larger magnetic fields than both red and blue supergiants, the progenitors of Type IIP/L SNe. If the next galactic SN is of Type Ibc, Fermi-LAT or a similar gamma-ray satellite might be able to discover the QCD axion down to masses as small as $m_a\simeq 10^{-4}\,\rm eV$ (Peccei-Quinn scale $f_a\simeq 10^{11} \,\rm GeV$).
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All authors Francisco R. Candón, Damiano F. G. Fiorillo, Ángel Gil Muyor, Hans-Thomas Janka, Georg G. Raffelt, Edoardo Vitagliano

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Cross-listed from hep-ph

Effects of Lighter-than-QCD Axions on Neutron Star Tidal Deformability

Finite density corrections to the lighter-than-QCD axion can invert the effective axion potential, sourcing a non-trivial axion field inside dense objects. We perform the first numerical study of the complete dynamics of the lighter-than-QCD axion in a neutron star in 1+1 general relativity, extending the region of analysis to low-mass axions with kilometer-scale Compton wavelengths. We calculate gravitational effects of the axion field on the neutron star and show that for a broad range of axion masses and decay constants, neutron star properties, such as the mass, radius, and compactness, are affected at the order-1 level. This result indicates that approximate universal tidal deformability-compactness relation for neutron stars is non-trivially broken and can serve as a probe of lighter-than-QCD axions, independent of the unknown nuclear equation of state. We comment on the potential for axion studies with future gravitational-wave observations of neutron stars and applications of this work to other new physics signatures.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

Steady-State or Not? The Evolution of Cosmic Ray Electron Spectra in Galaxies

Cosmic ray (CR) electrons are key tracers of non-thermal processes in galaxies, yet their spectra are often modelled under the untested assumption of steady state between injection and cooling. In this work, we present a time-dependent modelling of CR electron spectra in a galactic context using the CREST code, applied to magnetohydrodynamical simulations of an isolated Milky Way-mass galaxy performed with AREPO. CR electrons are injected at supernova sites and evolved with adiabatic changes and cooling processes on Lagrangian tracer particles, including losses from synchrotron, inverse Compton, bremsstrahlung, and Coulomb interactions. We compare these fully time-dependent spectra to local and global steady-state models computed with CRAYON+, as well as to one-zone analytic steady-state solutions. We find that the global CR electron spectrum in the simulated galactic disk closely resembles a steady-state solution up to energies of 500 GeV, with deviations only at higher energies where cooling times become shorter than injection timescales. High-energy electrons are dominated by recently injected populations that have not yet reached equilibrium, however, producing a steeper spectrum and lower normalisation than a steady-state model predicts. Spatially, the electrons modelled on-the-fly with CREST are more confined to the star-forming disk, in contrast to the more extended distributions from steady-state post-processing models. Our results demonstrate that while steady-state assumptions capture the bulk CR electron population in star-forming disks, a time-dependent treatment is essential to describe the high-energy and outflowing components.
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All authors Maria Werhahn, Christoph Pfrommer, Joseph Whittingham, Léna Jlassi, Rüdiger Pakmor, Philipp Girichidis, Rebekka Bieri

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Stellar Flares in the TESS Light Curves of Planet-hosting M dwarfs

M dwarfs are magnetically active stars that frequently produce flares, which have implications for both stellar evolution and exoplanet studies. Flare occurrence rates and activity levels of M dwarfs correlate with stellar characteristics such as age, mass, and rotation period. We search TESS observations of a known active population of M dwarfs as well as a volume-limited sample of M dwarfs within 15 parsecs. We detect flares in the light curves of these stars, including 276 of 538 M dwarfs within 15 pc, and calculate cumulative flare frequency distributions (FFDs) for each star. Based on flaring behavior, we categorize stars into relatively higher and lower activity groups and fit power laws to their FFDs to compare the power law exponent ($\alpha$) across activity levels. We find $\alpha =1.99 \pm 0.07$ for the combined FFD of the lower activity M dwarfs, compared to averages of $\alpha = 1.94 \pm 0.58$ for highly active stars with 10-100 detected flares, and $\alpha = 2.03 \pm 0.43$ for those with > 100 detected flares, suggesting little evolution in the power law distribution of flares as M dwarfs transition from high to low activity states. The uncertainties for the active star groups reflect the standard deviation of $\alpha$ values across individual stars within each subset. Because stellar flares and associated stellar activity complicate exoplanet observations, we also examine the subset of M dwarfs with JWST transmission spectroscopy follow-up observations in Cycles 1-3. The flares we detect for these targets are consistent with the broader 15 pc sample, providing context for interpreting planetary atmosphere retrievals from JWST spectra.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

Statistics Meet Systematics: Resolution of the Massive Early JWST Galaxy Tension

The discovery of massive, high redshift galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been argued to challenge $\Lambda$CDM (cold dark matter): such systems would require extremely rare halos and baryon-to-stellar-mass conversion efficiencies unphysically approaching – or exceeding – $100\%$. If confirmed at galaxy-formation–forbidden efficiencies, these galaxies could signal new physics beyond standard cosmological structure formation. We develop a galaxy model framework that ties the linear power spectrum to the inferred efficiencies of galaxy growth while incorporating multiple sources of uncertainties in order to test the structure formation models. The sources of error include (i) observational sample variance, (ii) asymmetric scatter induced by the steepness of the high-mass halo tail, and (iii) systematic uncertainties in stellar mass estimates. We find that the inferred star-formation efficiency is largely controlled by systematic uncertainties in the stellar mass estimates derived from spectral energy distribution modeling of JWST-detected galaxies. Because of the inherent Eddington-like bias, systematic uncertainties amplify the asymmetry of the scatter, in some cases by orders of magnitude, thereby bringing the inferred efficiencies into closer agreement with expectations from early galaxy formation models. We also present how these uncertainties can be applied to the inferred UV luminosity function. Our framework can be used to test $\Lambda$CDM as errors are reduced and further detections are made.
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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

The physical properties of post-mass-transfer binaries

Aims. We present and analyse the detailed physical properties of six binary stellar systems, originally proposed as possible star-black hole binaries on the basis of radial velocities from Gaia's third data release, but soon recognised as likely post-mass-transfer binary systems with stripped companions. Methods. We used multi-epoch high-resolution FEROS spectra and spectral disentangling paired with stellar templates to derive effective temperatures, $T_\mathrm{eff}$; stellar radii, R*; and projected rotational velocities, v$\sin{i}$ for both components in all systems along with the mass ratio, q = $M_\mathrm{accretor}/M_\mathrm{donor}$ and the components' flux ratio as a function of wavelength. Results. Our analysis directly confirms that all systems are post-mass-transfer binaries with two luminous stars, i.e. no black hole companions. Each system contains an A-type accretor component that is rapidly rotating and a cooler very low-mass donor (~ 0.25M$\odot$) that is overluminous. Five of the systems show no trace of any emission lines, implying that there is no current mass transfer, consistent with our inferred radii, in all cases within the Roche volume. The data are generally consistent with stable case AB mass transfer with $\beta$ (the fraction of mass lost from the accretor) less than 0.7. While the accretor components rotate rapidly, they rotate well below the critical rotation rate, $v_\mathrm{crit}$, even though there must have been enough mass transfer to spin them up to a significant fraction of $v_\mathrm{crit}$, according to theoretical models of angular momentum transfer. As neither magnetic braking nor tidal synchronisation should have been effective in spinning down the stars, our results suggest that either mass accretion does not increase the angular momentum of the accretors to their critical values or the systems never reached these values in the first place.
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All authors Rhys Seeburger, Hans-Walter Rix, Kareem El-Badry, Johanna Müller-Horn, Alex J. Dimoff, Jan Henneco, Jaime I. Villaseñor

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

The hard ultraluminous state of NGC 5055 ULX X-1

We present the results of the first broadband X-ray analysis of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 5055 ULX X-1, combining simultaneous data from XMM$-$Newton and NuSTAR missions, with a combined exposure time of $\sim$100 ks across the $0.3-20$ keV energy range. The source exhibits a stable flux across the entire exposure with no detectable pulsations by any instrument on their X-ray light curves, placing pulsed-fraction upper limits of 10% and 32% for XMM$-$Newton and NuSTAR, respectively. The X-ray spectrum is dominated by two thermal components consistent with the emission from an accretion disk, and shows a weak high-energy tail above 10 keV, with no statistical requirement for an additional nonthermal component. The unabsorbed $0.3-20$ keV luminosity is ${\sim}2\times10^{40}$ erg s$^{-1}$, evidencing the ULX nature of the source. The parameters obtained from spectral modeling are consistent with the hard ultraluminous state. Despite the fact that a neutron-star accretor cannot be ruled out by the available data, under the assumption that the compact object in NGC 5055 ULX X-1 is a black hole accreting through a geometrically thick, radiation-pressure-supported disk that drives an optically thick wind, we constrained its putative mass to $11-26$ M$_{\odot}$.
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All authors N. Cruz-Sanchez, E. A. Saavedra, F. A. Fogantini, F. García, J. A. Combi

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

Investigating the Dark Energy Constraint from Strongly Lensed AGN at LSST-Scale

Strongly lensed Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) with an observable time delay can be used to constrain the expansion history of the Universe through time-delay cosmography (TDC). As the sample of time-delay lenses grows to statistical size, with $\mathcal{O}$(1000) lensed AGN forecast to be observed by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), there is an emerging opportunity to use TDC as an independent probe of dark energy. To take advantage of this statistical sample, we implement a scalable hierarchical inference tool which computes the cosmological likelihood for hundreds of strong lenses simultaneously. With this new technique, we investigate the cosmological constraining power from a simulation of the full LSST sample. We start from individual lenses, and emulate the full joint hierarchical TDC analysis, including image-based modeling, time-delay measurement, velocity dispersion measurement, and external convergence prediction. We fully account for the mass-sheet and mass-anisotropy degeneracies. We assume a sample of 800 lenses, with varying levels of follow-up fidelity based on existing campaigns. With our baseline assumptions, within a flexible $w_0w_a$CDM cosmology, we simultaneously forecast a $\sim$2.5% constraint on H0 and a dark energy figure of merit (DE FOM) of 6.7. We show that by expanding the sample from 50 lenses with IFU kinematics to include 750 lenses with plausible LSST time-delay measurements, we improve the forecasted DE FOM by nearly a factor of 3, demonstrating the value of incorporating this portion of the sample. We also investigate different follow-up campaign strategies, and find significant improvements in the DE FOM with additional stellar kinematics measurements and higher-precision time-delay measurements. We also demonstrate how the redshift configuration of time-delay lenses impacts constraining power in $w_0w_a$CDM.
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All authors Sydney Erickson, Martin Millon, Padmavathi Venkatraman, Tian Li, Philip Holloway, Phil Marshall, Anowar Shajib, Simon Birrer, Xiang-Yu Huang, Timo Anguita, Steven Dillmann, Narayan Khadka, Kate Napier, Aaron Roodman, The LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration

Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics

A model-independent assessment of the late-time dark energy density evolution

Combined measurements of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Survey (DESI), the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and Type Ia Supernovae (SN Ia), have recently challenged the $\Lambda$-Cold Dark Matter ($\Lambda$CDM) paradigm, indicating potential evidence for a dynamical dark energy component. These results are usually obtained in the context of the dark energy equation-of-state (EoS) parameterizations, generally implying in phantom-crossing at intermediate redshifts. However, a general mapping between these parameterizations that yields approximately the same background observables clouds the inference of the true nature of dark energy in the context of these parametric methods. In this work, we propose a model-independent reconstruction of the dark energy density, which is more directly constrained than its EoS, based on the Gaussian Process (GP) regression method with the use of DESI DR2 BAO data and the Pantheon+, Union3 and DESY5 SN Ia samples. In addition, we perform a statistical comparison between the energy densities of $\Lambda$, a non-phantom thawing quintessence-type dark energy, and the Chevallier-Polarski-Linder parameterization with the reconstructed function. We find that all models agree with the GP reconstruction at 95% C.L., with the largest discrepancy coming from $\Lambda$CDM with DESY5 at low redshifts. Even in this case, our findings suggest that it may be premature to claim statistically significant evidence for evolving or phantom dark energy with current DESI and SN Ia measurements.
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All authors Rayff de Souza, Agripino Sousa-Neto, Javier E. González, Jailson Alcaniz

Astrophysics of Galaxies

High-resolution radio imaging of TGSSJ1530+1049, a radio galaxy in a dense environment at z=4

High-redshift radio galaxies can provide insights into the structure formation and galaxy evolution at earlier cosmological epochs. TGSSJ1530+1049 was selected as a candidate high-redshift radio galaxy. Subsequent observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) presented in a companion paper (Saxena et al., 2026) have shown that it is located at a redshift z=4.0. The JWST data furthermore showed that the radio source is part of one of the densest structures of galaxies and ionized gas known at these redshifts. The complex system qualitatively resembles a massive (cluster) galaxy forming early through a rapid succession of mergers. TGSSJ1530+1049 is an unresolved source down to ~0.6" scale in multiple radio surveys. To reveal its high-resolution radio structure and allow for a detailed comparison with JWST observations, we studied its morphology at various angular scales with different radio interferometric instruments. We observed TGSSJ1530+1049 at milliarcsecond (mas) scale angular resolution with the European VLBI Network (EVN), and at ~100-mas scale resolution with the enhanced Multi-Element Remotely Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN). We recovered a complex north–south oriented structure with steep-spectrum radio-emitting features, which are associated with lobes and hot spots of a jetted active galactic nucleus. The centre of the radio galaxy proved to be too faint at cm wavelengths to be unambiguously detected in our observations. Nevertheless, the linear size (~5.5 kpc) and the radio power place it among the so-called medium-sized symmetric objects, a smaller and/or confined version of larger radio galaxies. Comparison between the radio morphology and that of the ionized gas observed by JWST shows that the two are closely aligned. However, the optical emission line gas extends out to ~25 kpc, which is well beyond the detected radio structures. (Abridged)
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All authors K. É. Gabányi, S. Frey, L. I. Gurvits, Z. Paragi, K. Perger, A. Saxena, R. A. Overzier, M. Villar-Martín, V. Reynaldi, G. Miley, H. J. A. Röttgering, A. Humphrey, Gy. Mező

Astrophysics of Galaxies

JWST observes the assembly of a massive galaxy at z~4

We present JWST observations of the radio galaxy TGSSJ1530+1049, spectroscopically confirmed at $z=4.0$. NIRCam images and NIRSpec/IFU spectroscopy (R=2700) show that TGSSJ1530+1049 is part of one of the densest-known structures of continuum and line-emitting objects found at these redshifts. NIRCam images show a number of distinct continuum objects and evidence of interactions traced by diffuse emission, and the NIRSpec IFU cube reveals further strong line emitting regions. We identify six continuum and four additional strong H$\alpha$ emitting sources with weaker or no underlying continuum within the 3x3 arcsec IFU field. From spatial alignment with high-resolution radio data and emission line profiles, the radio AGN host galaxy is clearly identified. The bright H$\alpha$ emission (but not the optical components) is distributed remarkably linearly along the radio axis, suggestive of a biconical illumination zone by a central obscured AGN. The emission line kinematics indicate jet-gas interactions on scales of a few kpc. However, due to large relative velocities and presence of underlying continuum, the alignment with the radio structure appears to be, at least partly, caused by a particular configuration of interacting galaxies. At least four objects within a 10x10 (projected) kpc$^2$ area which includes the radio source have high stellar masses ($\log(M_\star/M_\odot)>10.3$) and star formation rates in the range $70-163\,M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. Using a stellar mass-based analysis, we predict a total dark matter halo mass of $\approx10^{13} M_\odot$. Based on the physical separations and velocity differences between the galaxies, it is expected that these galaxies will merge to form a massive galaxy within a few Gyr. The system qualitatively resembles the forming brightest cluster galaxies in cosmological simulations that form early through a rapid succession of mergers.
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All authors Aayush Saxena, Roderik A. Overzier, Catarina Aydar, Jianwei Lyu, George H. Rieke, Victoria Reynaldi, Montserrat Villar-Martín, Krisztina Éva Gabányi, Kenneth J. Duncan, Sándor Frey, Andrew Humphrey, George Miley, Laura Pentericci, Krisztina Perger, Huub Röttgering, Philip Best, Sarah E. I. Bosman, Gyorgy Mező, Masafusa Onoue, Zsolt Paragi, Bram Venemans

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Coupling between gravitational and electromagnetic perturbations on Kerr Spacetime

We extend our previous Schwarzschild metric-based studies of gravitational–electromagnetic (GEM) coupling to rotating black holes by working directly in a curvature-based Newman–Penrose/Teukolsky framework on Kerr spacetime. Within a minimally coupled Einstein–Maxwell system, we derive explicit quadratic electromagnetic source terms for the spin-$-2$ Teukolsky equation, providing a foundation for future numerical studies of GEM interactions in the framework of black-hole spectroscopy. Moreover, we give order-of-magnitude arguments showing that GEM quadratic quasinormal modes (QQNMs) can become relevant in a range of charged and magnetized astrophysical scenarios. Finally, we show through a brief dilaton-theory example that the GEM QQNM spectrum is sensitive to how gravity couples to electromagnetism, thereby providing a model-based way to test minimal coupling and to constrain hidden $U(1)$ sectors with gravitational-wave observations.
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Astrophysics of Galaxies

Sense and Sensitivity - I. Uncertainty analysis of the gas-phase chemistry in AGB outflows

Chemical reaction networks are central to all chemical models. Each rate coefficient has an associated uncertainty, which is generally not taken into account when calculating the chemistry. We performed the first uncertainty analysis of a chemical model of C-rich and O-rich AGB outflows using the Rate22 reaction network. Quantifying the error on the model predictions enables us to determine the need for adding complexity to the model. Using a Monte Carlo sampling method, we quantified the impact of the uncertainties on the chemical kinetic data on the predicted fractional abundances and column densities. The errors are caused by a complex interplay of reactions forming and destroying each species. Parent species show an error on their envelope sizes, which is not caused by the uncertainty on their photodissociation rate, but rather the chemistry reforming the parent after its photodissociation. Using photodissociation models to estimate the envelope size might be an oversimplification. The error on the CO envelope impacts retrieved mass-loss rates by up to a factor of two. For daughter species, the error on the peak fractional abundance ranges from a factor of a few to three orders of magnitude, and is on average about 10% of its value. This error is positively correlated with the error on the column density. The standard model suffices for many species, e.g., the radial distribution of cyanopolyynes and hydrocarbon radicals around IRC +10216. However, including spherical asymmetries, dust-gas chemistry, and photochemistry induced by a close-by stellar companion are still necessary to explain certain observations.
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All authors M. Van de Sande, M. Gueguen, T. Danilovich, T.J. Millar

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Multi Messenger Study of GRB 221009A with VHE Gamma-ray and Neutrino Afterglow from a Gaussian Structured Jet

Recent detections of very-high-energy (VHE; $\gtrsim 100~{\rm GeV}$) emission from GRB afterglows, most notably the unprecedented brightness of GRB~221009A observed by LHAASO, reveal components beyond the standard electron synchrotron model. The multi-TeV photons motivate synchrotron self-Compton and possible hadronic contributions, while the non-detection of coincident neutrinos by IceCube/KM3NeT/GRAND200k constrains the microphysical parameters, jet kinetic energy, and ambient-medium density. We model the VHE afterglow of GRB~221009A with an external forward shock from a Gaussian structured jet in a uniform-density medium. This angular structure reproduces the extreme TeV output at an off-axis angle but without demanding large energies as in a top-hat jet. We compute the corresponding $p\gamma$ neutrino flux in the PeV-EeV range and derive a time-integrated upper limit using the effective areas of IceCube-Gen2 and GRAND200k. This provides insight into the contribution of individual GRBs to neutrino events. The predicted neutrino flux for GRB~221009A, using parameters inferred from the multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution, lies below the sensitivities of these detectors. Even our correlation analysis, optimized for neutrino searches with the upcoming GRAND200k, indicates that the expected number of events from this GRB is of order $\sim 0.1$ under a highly optimistic microphysical parameter regime. We also compare neutrino-flux variations from on-axis and off-axis viewing geometries and find an approximately order of magnitude difference in the signal. Thus, our study concludes that a brighter burst closer than GRB~221009A would be crucial for neutrino detection by upcoming telescopes. Future GRB detections by the Cherenkov Telescope Array will provide important constraints on their geometry, radiation mechanisms, and possible associated neutrino signals.
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All authors T. Mondal, S. Razzaque, Jagdish C. Joshi, S. Majumder, D. Bose

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics · Cross-listed from physics.ins-det

Variable-temperature attenuator calibration method for on-wafer microwave noise characterization of low-noise amplifiers

Low-noise cryogenic microwave amplifiers are widely used in applications such as radio astronomy and quantum computing. On-wafer noise characterization of cryogenic low-noise transistors is desirable because it facilitates more rapid characterization of devices prior to packaging, but obtaining accurate noise measurements is difficult due to the uncertainty arising from the input loss and temperature gradients prior to the device-under-test (DUT). Here, we report a calibration method that enables the simultaneous determination of the backend noise temperature and effective-noise-ratio at the input plane of the DUT. The method is based on measuring the S-parameters and noise power of a series of attenuators at two or more distinct physical temperatures. We validate our method by measuring the noise temperature of InP HEMTs in 4-8 GHz. The calibration method can be generalized to measure the microwave noise temperature of any two-port device so long as a series of attenuators can be measured at two or more distinct physical temperatures.
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All authors Anthony J. Ardizzi, Jiayin Zhang, Akim A. Babenko, Kieran A. Cleary, Austin J. Minnich

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Statistical analysis of eclipsing binaries with monotonic orbital-period variations: A-type W UMa contact systems

On the basis of monotonic orbital-period variations, this study aims to identify genuine relationships between binary parameters and the rates of mass transfer (MT), mass loss (ML), and angular momentum loss (AML). Sample binaries with monotonic period variations are collected from the literature, together with well-determined binary parameters. Assuming the monotonic variations are responsible for any one of the MT, ML, and AML, their rates are calculated with the rates of change of period. After selecting crucial parameters using partial least-squares analysis, a parameter that exhibits the closest correlation with any one of the derived rates is further selected using partial regression plots. Moreover, power-law relationships are found for the discovered correlations. The properties of the sample binaries are also investigated by examining associations between binary parameters. In the systems with negative period variations, it is found that the rate of MT from more- to less-massive stars is a function of the primary radius; the AML rate is a function of the fill-out factor. In addition, the relationships between the mass ratio and stellar masses indicate that the ML rate relative to the MT rate decreases with increasing mass ratio below ~0.46. Meanwhile, in the systems with positive variations, it is found that the rate of MT from less- to more-massive stars is a function of the luminosity ratio and/or mass ratio; the ML rate is a function of the secondary temperature. The discussion also addresses possible processes occurring in the sample binaries.
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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

High-Precision Multi-Period Analysis of the Ellipsoidal Variable Candidate TIC~470127886 from TESS Photometry

We present the first detailed photometric characterization of TIC 470127886, a previously unstudied multi-periodic variable star discovered in TESS photometry. Analysis of 145,374 high-cadence observations spanning 696 days (944-day baseline, 2023 January-2024 October) across 10 sectors (60, 59, 58, 53, 52, 73, 86, 79, 78, 85) reveals complex periodic variability with a primary period of 5.544527 +/- 0.004307 days and false alarm probability 1.47 x 10^-87. Lomb-Scargle analysis identifies three significant periods at 5.545, 5.801, and 8.874 days with amplitudes of 15,702, 12,772, and 12,670 ppm. The phase-folded light curve shows smooth, sinusoidal morphology consistent with ellipsoidal variation from tidal distortion in a close binary, with no eclipse features. A three-component sinusoidal model, appropriate for ellipsoidal variables, provides excellent fit quality. Validation tests confirm signal authenticity and persistence, and systematic checks verify no contamination from nearby stars (>3 mag fainter). We classify TIC 470127886 as an ellipsoidal variable candidate with 0.70 confidence, with multi-period behavior suggesting additional variability mechanisms beyond tidal distortion. This work demonstrates high-precision characterization of complex multi-periodic variables in TESS photometry.
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2511.13610 · 17 Nov · After submission, we became aware of Yee et al. (2025, ApJS, 265, 1) presenting extensive multi-instrument characterization of this target. Given their substantially larger dataset including radial velocity measurements, which are not available in our analysis, we are withdrawing to incorporate additional observations and ensure the integrity of our results before resubmission

Astrophysics of Galaxies

A Fleeting GLIMPSE of N/O Enrichment at Cosmic Dawn: Evidence for Wolf Rayet N Stars in a z = 6.1 Galaxy

We present the discovery of extreme nitrogen enrichment by Wolf Rayet nitrogen stars (WN) in the metal-poor (~10% Z_odot), lensed, compact (R_eff ~ 20 pc) galaxy RXCJ2248 at z=6.1, revealed by unprecedentedly deep JWST/NIRSpec medium-resolution spectroscopy from the GLIMPSE-D Survey. The exquisite S/N reveals multiple high-ionization nebular lines and broad Balmer and [OIII] components (FWHM~700-3000 km/s). We detect broadened HeII 1640 and 4687 (FWHM~530 km/s) and strong NIII] 4642 emission consistent with a population of WN stars, making RXCJ2248 the most distant galaxy with confirmed WR features to date. We measure the multi-phase nebular density across five ions, the direct-method metallicity (12+log(O/H)= 7.749+/-0.023), and a non-uniform elemental enrichment pattern of extreme N/O enhancement (log(N/O)=-0.390+/-0.035 from N^+, N^+2, and N^+3) and suppressed C/O relative to empirical C/N trends. We show that this abundance pattern can be explained by enrichment from a dual-burst with a low WC/WN ratio, as expected at low metallicities. Crucially, these signatures can only arise during a brief, rare evolutionary window shortly after a burst (~3-6 Myr), when WN stars dominate chemical feedback but before dilution by later yields (e.g., supernovae). The observed frequency of strong N emitters at high-z implies a ~50 Myr burst duty cycle, suggesting that N/O outliers may represent a brief but ubiquitous phase in the evolution of highly star-forming early galaxies. The detection in RXCJ2248, therefore, provides the first direct evidence of WN-driven chemical enrichment in the early Universe and a novel timing argument for the bursty star formation cycles that shaped galaxies at cosmic dawn.
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All authors Danielle A. Berg, Rohan P. Naidu, John Chisholm, Hakim Atek, Seiji Fujimoto, Vasily Kokorev, Lukas J. Furtak, Chiaki Kobayashi, Daniel Schaerer, Angela Adamo, Qinyue Fei, Damien Korber, Jorryt Matthee, Rui Marques-Chaves, Zorayda Martinez, Kristen B. W. Mcquinn, Julian B. Muñoz, Pascal A. Oesch, Daniel P. Stark, Mabel G. Stephenson, Tiger Yu-Yang Hsiao

Astrophysics of Galaxies

High Resolution Observations of CO(3-2) in Haro 2: Cool Molecular Outflows of a Ly$\alpha$ Emitter

Haro 2 is a blue compact dwarf galaxy and the closest (at 21Mpc) known $Ly\alpha$ emitter. UV and optical observations have found Haro 2 to be immersed in shells of partly ionized gas expanding at $\sim200$km/s. Observations of CO(2-1) (Becket et al 2020; Paper 1) with moderate ($2^{\prime\prime}$) resolution discovered a large-scale one-sided outflow associated with a soft X-ray bubble and apparently driven by the young star clusters created in the recent starburst. We present here SMA observations of CO(3-2) with $1.1^{\prime\prime}$ resolution in Haro 2. The opposite-side component of the large molecular outflow is detected lying in the direction of the fast ionized outflow; it is very confined in area. An additional outflow is apparent in the CO(3-2); it is south-east of the galaxy in a region holding weak star formation and a moderate-luminosity hard X-ray source. All the molecular outflow and filament velocities are within $\lesssim\pm50$km/s of the systemic velocity of the galaxy.
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Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Cross-listed from gr-qc

Bimodular Gravity: Vacuum Evolution with a Frame-Dependent Phantom Crossing

Unimodular gravity recasts the cosmological constant as an integration constant, fixed by a constraint on the volume element rather than chosen in the action. We ask what becomes of this constant when matter couples not to the gravitational metric, but to a second metric disformally related to it through a scalar field. Imposing a volume constraint on each metric, we find a theory in which the scalar does not propagate, yet still drives a non-trivial expansion. Written as a single-metric theory, its kinetic term is fixed to a prescribed function of spacetime, and the cosmological constant is replaced by a vacuum contribution that need not be constant. Moreover, we find that this theory admits a phantom crossing through a purely frame-dependent mechanism. This construction, however, rests on a feature invisible with a single metric, and unimodular formalisms that are classically equivalent in that case cease to agree once there are two disformally related metrics.
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Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics · Cross-listed from physics.hist-ph

The Birth of Gravitational Particle Creation: the Enduring Legacy of Leonard Parker's 1966 Thesis

This paper offers a historical overview of the origins and enduring significance of gravitational particle creation, a groundbreaking discovery first formulated in Leonard Parker's 1966 doctoral thesis at Harvard University. By tracing the context in which Parker developed this idea and examining its subsequent influence, the paper highlights how the concept of gravitational particle creation advanced the study of quantum field theory in curved spacetime and profoundly shaped modern cosmology, as well as the quantum theory of black holes.
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Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

The bulk metal content of WASP-80 b from joint interior-atmosphere retrievals: Breaking degeneracies and exploring biases with panchromatic spectra

WASP-80 b is an unusually low-density exoplanet in tension with the metal-rich composition expected for a planet of its mass. We aim to derive precise constraints on WASP-80 b's bulk metal mass fraction, atmospheric composition, and thermal structure. We conducted a suite of retrievals using three approaches: traditional interior-only, atmosphere-only, and joint interior-atmosphere retrievals. We coupled the open-source models GASTLI and petitRADTRANS, which describe planetary structure and thermal evolution, and atmospheric chemistry and clouds, respectively. Our retrievals combine mass and age with panchromatic spectra from JWST and HST in both transmission (0.5-4 $\mu$m) and emission (1-12 $\mu$m) as observational constraints. We identify two fiducial scenarios. In the first, WASP-80 b has an internal temperature consistent with its age in the absence of external heating sources, and its atmosphere is in chemical equilibrium, with an atmospheric metallicity M/H = 2.75$^{+0.88}_{-0.56}$x solar, a bulk metal mass fraction $Z_{planet}=0.12\pm0.02$, and a core mass $M_{core}=3.49^{+3.49}_{-1.59} \ M_{\oplus}$. In the second scenario, WASP-80 b may be inflated by an additional heat source - possibly induced by magnetic fields - with an atmospheric metallicity M/H = 10.00$^{+8.20}_{-4.75}$x solar, $Z_{planet}=0.28\pm0.11$, and $M_{core}=31.8^{+21.3}_{-17.5} \ M_{\oplus}$. The super-solar M/H and sub-solar C/O ratios in both scenarios suggest late pebble or planetesimal accretion, while additional heating is required to reconcile the data with the more massive core predicted by the core accretion paradigm. In general, joint retrievals are inherently affected by a degeneracy between atmospheric chemistry and internal structure. Together with flexible cloud treatment and an unweighted likelihood, this leads to larger uncertainties in bulk and atmospheric compositions than previously claimed.
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All authors Lorena Acuña-Aguirre, Laura Kreidberg, Paul Mollière, Nora Bachmann