An Analysis of Spitzer Phase Curves for WASP-121b and WASP-77Ab

Abstract We present analyses of Spitzer InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC) 3.6 μ m and 4.5 μ m phase-curve observations of hot Jupiters WASP-77Ab and WASP-121b. For WASP-121b, we find amplitudes of 1771 ± 95 ppm (3.6 μ m) and 2048 ± 109 ppm (4.5 μ m), and near-zero offsets of −0 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>°</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 78 ± 1 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>°</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 87 (3.6 μ m) and 0 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>°</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 42 ± 1 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>°</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 74 (4.5 μ m), consistent within 2.2 σ and 1.3 σ , respectively, with JWST Near Infrared Spectrograph results. For WASP-77Ab, we find amplitudes of 535 ± 52 ppm (3.6 μ m) and 919 ± 40 ppm (4.5 μ m), and offsets of 33 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>°</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 45 ± 2 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>°</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 79 (3.6 μ m) and 16 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>°</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 28 ± 2 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>°</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 52 (4.5 μ m). We report day- and nightside brightness temperatures: for WASP-121b, 2779 ± 40 K (3.6 μ m) and 2905 ± 51 K (4.5 μ m) (day) and 1259 ± 67 K (3.6 μ m) and 1349 ± 54 K (4.5 μ m) (night); for WASP-77Ab, 1876 ± 23 K (3.6 μ m) and 1780 ± 25 K (day) and 1501 ± 22 K (3.6 μ m) and 1234 ± 20 K (4.5 μ m) (night). Comparing WASP-121b data to general circulation models, we find evidence for drag inhibiting day-to-night heat transfer, which our model reproduces using magnetic circulation. Further, comparing both planets’ data to energy balance models, we show suppressed circulation in WASP-121b and potential evidence for an unusually high Bond albedo in WASP-77Ab. We add both planets to the Spitzer population study of previously identified trends in offset versus orbital period, finding that a positive trend is weakened, but not eliminated, by including these planets.