Isabel Rebollido

• PhD
• PostDoc Position at Centro de Astrobiología

Epsilon Eridani ($\epsilon$ Eri) is one of the first debris disk systems detected by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). However, the system has thus far eluded detection in scattered light with no components having been directly imaged. Its similarity to a relatively young Solar System combined with its proximity makes it an excellent cand...

The JWST NIRSpec integral field unit (IFU) presents a unique opportunity to observe directly imaged exoplanets from 3 to 5 μ m at moderate spectral resolution ( R ∼ 2700) and thereby better constrain the composition, disequilibrium chemistry, and cloud properties of their atmospheres. In this work, we present the first NIRSpec IFU high-contrast obs...

Modeling observations of the archetypal debris disk around $\beta$ Pic, obtained in 2023 January with the MIRI MRS on board JWST, reveals significant differences compared with that obtained with the IRS on board Spitzer. The bright 5 - 15 $\mu$m continuum excess modeled using a $\sim$600 K black body has disappeared. The previously prominent 18 and...

We present the first JWST/NIRCam observations of the directly imaged gas giant exoplanet β Pic b. Observations in six filters using NIRCam's round coronagraphic masks provide a high-signal-to-noise-ratio detection of β Pic b and the archetypal debris disk around β Pic over a wavelength range of ∼1.7–5 μ m. This paper focuses on the detection of β P...

We present the first JWST/NIRCam observations of the directly-imaged gas giant exoplanet $\beta$ Pic b. Observations in six filters using NIRCam's round coronagraphic masks provide a high signal-to-noise detection of $\beta$ Pic b and the archetypal debris disk around $\beta$ Pic over a wavelength range of $\sim$1.7-5 $\mu$m. This paper focuses on...

The unprecedented medium-resolution ( R λ ∼ 1500–3500) near- and mid-infrared (1–18 μ m) spectrum provided by JWST for the young (140 ± 20 Myr) low-mass (12–20 M Jup ) L–T transition (L7) companion VHS 1256 b gives access to a catalog of molecular absorptions. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of this data set utilizing a forward-m...

We present JWST MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph (MRS) observations of the β Pictoris system. We detect an infrared excess from the central unresolved point source from 5 to 7.5 μ m which is indicative of dust within the inner ∼7 au of the system. We perform point-spread function (PSF) subtraction on the MRS data cubes and detect a spatially res...

We present high-spectral-resolution M -band spectra from iSHELL on NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility along the line of sight to the debris disk host star HD 32297. We also present a Gemini Planet Imager H -band polarimetric image of the HD 131488 debris disk. We search for fundamental CO absorption lines in the iSHELL spectra of HD 32297, but do n...

We present the first JWST Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) observations of the prominent debris disk around β Pictoris. Coronagraphic observations in eight filters spanning from 1.8 to 23 μ m provide an unprecedentedly clear view of the disk at these wavelengths. The objectives of the observing program were to invest...

We show the first SPHERE/IRDIS and IFS data of the CO-rich debris disc around HD 131488. We use N-body simulations to model both the scattered light images and the spectral energy distribution of the disc in a self-consistent way. We apply the Henyey–Greenstein approximation, Mie theory, and the Discrete Dipole Approximation to model the emission o...

Clouds are prevalent in many of the exoplanet atmospheres that have been observed to date. For transiting exoplanets, we know if clouds are present because they mute spectral features and cause wavelength-dependent scattering. While the exact composition of these clouds is largely unknown, this information is vital to understanding the chemistry an...

Telescopii is an ∼23 Myr old A-type star surrounded by an edge-on debris disc hypothesized to harbour gas. Recent analysis of far- and near-ultraviolet spectroscopic observations of η Tel found absorption features at ∼−23 and ∼−18 km s−1 in several atomic lines, attributed to circumstellar and interstellar gas, respectively. In this work, we put th...

We present a generalized Non-negative factorization (NMF)-based data reduction pipeline for circumstellar disk and exoplanet detection. By using an adaptable pre-processing routine that applies algorithmic masks and corrections to improper data, we are able to easily offload the computationally-intensive NMF algorithm to a graphics processing unit...

We develop and disseminate effective point-spread functions and geometric-distortion solutions for high-precision astrometry and photometry with the JWST NIRISS instrument. We correct field dependencies and detector effects, and assess the quality and the temporal stability of the calibrations. As a scientific application and validation, we study t...

The presence of minor bodies in exoplanetary systems is in most cases inferred through infra-red excesses, with the exception of exocomets. Even if over 35 years have passed since the first detection of exocomets around β Pic, only ∼ 25 systems are known to show evidence of evaporating bodies, and most of them have only been observed in spectroscop...

The presence of minor bodies in exoplanetary systems is in most cases inferred through infra-red excesses, with the exception of exocomets. Even if over 35 years have passed since the first detection of exocomets around beta Pic, only ~ 25 systems are known to show evidence of evaporating bodies, and most of them have only been observed in spectros...

We develop and disseminate effective point-spread functions and geometric-distortion solutions for high-precision astrometry and photometry with the JWST NIRISS instrument. We correct field dependencies and detector effects, and assess the quality and the temporal stability of the calibrations. As a scientific application and validation, we study t...

Active comets have been detected in several exoplanetary systems, although so far only indirectly, when the dust or gas in the extended coma has transited in front of the stellar disk. The large optical surface and relatively high temperature of an active cometary coma also makes it suitable to study with direct imaging, but the angular separation...

Active comets have been detected in several exoplanetary systems, although so far only indirectly, when the dust or gas in the extended coma has transited in front of the stellar disk. The large optical surface and relatively high temperature of an active cometary coma also makes it suitable to study with direct imaging, but the angular separation...

Context . Multiwavelength scattered light imaging of debris disks may inform dust properties including typical size and mineral composition. Existing studies have investigated a small set of individual systems across a variety of imaging instruments and filters, calling for uniform comparison studies to systematically investigate dust properties. A...

Multi-wavelength scattered light imaging of debris disks may inform dust properties including typical size and mineral composition. Existing studies have investigated a small set of individual systems across a variety of imaging instruments and filters, calling for uniform comparison studies to systematically investigate dust properties. We obtain...

We present a set of recommended best practices for JWST data collection for members of the community focussed on the direct imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanetary systems. These findings and recommendations are based on the early analysis of the JWST Early Release Science Program 1386, "High-Contrast Imaging of Exoplanets and Exoplanetary Systems...

The direct characterization of exoplanetary systems with high-contrast imaging is among the highest priorities for the broader exoplanet community. As large space missions will be necessary for detecting and characterizing exo-Earth twins, developing the techniques and technology for direct imaging of exoplanets is a driving focus for the community...

We present the highest fidelity spectrum to date of a planetary-mass object. VHS 1256 b is a $<$20 M$_\mathrm{Jup}$ widely separated ($\sim$8", a = 150 au), young, brown dwarf companion that shares photometric colors and spectroscopic features with the directly imaged exoplanets HR 8799 c, d, and e. As an L-to-T transition object, VHS 1256 b exists...

We present JWST Early Release Science (ERS) coronagraphic observations of the super-Jupiter exoplanet, HIP 65426 b, with the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) from 2-5 $\mu$m, and with the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) from 11-16 $\mu$m. At a separation of $\sim$0.82" (87$^{+108}_{-31}$ au), HIP 65426 b is clearly detected in all seven of our observat...

While β Pic is known to host silicates in ring-like structures, whether the properties of these silicate dust vary with stellocentric distance remains an open question. We re-analyze the β Pictoris debris disk spectrum from the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) and a new Infrared Telescope Facility Spectrograph and Imager spectrum to investigate...

The direct characterization of exoplanetary systems with high contrast imaging is among the highest priorities for the broader exoplanet community. As large space missions will be necessary for detecting and characterizing exo-Earth twins, developing the techniques and technology for direct imaging of exoplanets is a driving focus for the community...

While beta Pic is known to host silicates in ring-like structures, whether the properties of these silicate dust vary with stellocentric distance remains an open question. We re-analyze the beta Pictoris debris disk spectrum from the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) and a new IRTF/SpeX spectrum to investigate trends in Fe/Mg ratio, shape, and cr...

Debris discs represent the last stages of planet formation and as such are expected to be depleted of primordial gas. Nonetheless, in the last few years the presence of cold gas has been reported in ∼ 20 debris discs from far-IR to (sub-)mm observations and hot gas has been observed in the optical spectra of debris discs for decades. While the orig...

Debris discs represent the last stages of planet formation and as such are expected to be depleted of primordial gas. Nonetheless, in the last few years the presence of cold gas has been reported in $\sim$ 20 debris discs from far-IR to (sub-)mm observations and hot gas has been observed in the optical spectra of debris discs for decades. While the...

HST UV spectra were obtained to study whether the φ Leo system has one or more stellar companions, as shown for the A-star dwarf, HR10, stellar pulsation, or transiting exocomets. During five partial HST observation sets spread over 13 months, redshifted gas with radial velocities up to +245 km s ⁻¹ was observed on one occasion, with lower velocity...

Context. We previously suggested that variable red- and blueshifted absorption features observed in the Ca II K line towards the A-type shell star ϕ Leo are likely due to solid, comet-like bodies in the circumstellar (CS) environment. Aims. Our aim is to expand our observational study of ϕ Leo to other characteristic spectral lines of A-type photos...

Variable red- and blue-shifted absorption features observed in the Ca ii K line towards the A-type shell star $\phi$ Leo have been suggested by us in a previous work to be likely due to solid, comet-like bodies in the circumstellar (CS) environment. Our aim is to expand our observational study of this object to other characteristic spectral lines o...

Exoplanet searches through space-based photometric time series have shown to be very efficient in the past years. However, follow-up efforts on the detected planet candidates have demonstrated to be critical to uncover the true nature of the transiting objects. In this paper we show a detailed analysis of one of those false positives hidden as plan...

We have obtained Hubble Space Telescope (HST) coronagraphic observations of the circumstellar disk around M star TWA 7 using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument in visible light. Together with archival observations, including HST/NICMOS using the F160W filter and Very Large Telescope/SPHERE at the H-band in polarized light, w...

We have obtained Hubble Space Telescope (HST) coronagraphic observations of the circumstellar disk around M star TWA 7 using the STIS instrument in visible light. Together with archival observations including HST/NICMOS using the F160W filter and Very Large Telescope/SPHERE at $H$-band in polarized light, we investigate the system in scattered ligh...

The recent paper by AlShebli et al. (2020) investigates the impact of mentorship in young scientists. Among their conclusions, they state that female protégés benefit more from male than female mentorship. We herein expose a critical flaw in their methodological design that is a common issue in Astronomy, namely "selection biases". An effect that i...

Exocomets are small bodies releasing gas and dust which orbit stars other than the Sun. Their existence was first inferred from the detection of variable absorption features in stellar spectra in the late 1980s using spectroscopy. More recently, they have been detected through photometric transits from space, and through far-IR/mm gas emission with...

Exocomets are small bodies releasing gas and dust which orbit stars other than the Sun. Their existence was first inferred from the detection of variable absorption features in stellar spectra in the late 1980s using spectroscopy. More recently, they have been detected through photometric transits from space, and through far-IR/mm gas emission with...

Context. While exoplanets are now routinely detected, the detection of small bodies in extrasolar systems remains challenging. Since the discovery of sporadic events, which are interpreted to be exocomets (falling evaporating bodies) around β Pic in the early 1980s, only ∼20 stars have been reported to host exocomet-like events. Aims. We aim to exp...

While exoplanets are now routinely detected, the detection of small bodies in extrasolar systems remains challenging. Since the discovery of sporadic events interpreted as exocomets (Falling Evaporating Bodies) around $\beta$ Pic in the early 80s, only $\sim$20 stars have been reported to host exocomet-like events. We aim to expand the sample of kn...

Context. This paper is framed within a large project devoted to studying the presence of circumstellar material around main sequence stars, and looking for exocometary events. The work concentrates on HR 10 (A2 IV/V), known for its conspicuous variability in the circumstellar narrow absorption features of Ca II K and other lines, so far interpreted...

This paper is framed within a large project devoted to studying the presence of circumstellar material around main sequence stars, and looking for exocometary events. The work concentrates on HR 10 (A2 IV/V), known for its conspicuous variability in the circumstellar narrow absorption features of Ca II K and other lines, so far interpreted as $\bet...

Debris disks are second generation dusty disks thought to be devoid of gas. However, this idea has been challenged in the last years by gas detections in some systems. We compiled a database of 301 debris disks and collected high–resolution optical spectra for ∼77% of them. From the analysis of these data we identified a group of 23 debris disks pr...

Debris disks are second generation dusty disks thought to be devoid of gas. However, this idea has been challenged in the last years by gas detections in some systems. We compiled a database of 301 debris disks and collected high--resolution optical spectra for $\sim77\%$ of them. From the analysis of these data we identified a group of 23 debris d...

We announce the discovery of K2-139 b (EPIC 218916923 b), a transiting warm-Jupiter (Teq = 547± 25 K) on a 29-d orbit around an active (logR' HK =-4.46±0.06) K0V star in K2 Campaign 7.We derive the system's parameters by combining the K2 photometry with groundbased follow-up observations. With a mass of 0.387 -0.033+0.075 MJ and radius of 0.808 -0....

The search for extrasolar planets in the past decades has shown that planets abound in the Solar neighborhood. While we are still missing an Earth twin, the forthcoming space missions and ground-based instrumentation are already driven to achieve this goal. But, in order to fully understand the conditions for life appearing in the Solar System, we...

Context. Debris discs have often been described as gas-poor discs as the gas-to-dust ratio is expected to be considerably lower than in primordial, protoplanetary discs. However, recent observations have confirmed the presence of a non-negligible amount of cold gas in the circumstellar (CS) debris discs around young main-sequence stars. This cold g...

Debris discs have often been described as gas-poor discs as the gas-to-dust ratio is expected to be considerably lower than in primordial,protoplanetary discs. However, recent observations have confirmed the presence of a non-negligible amount of cold gas in the circumstellar (CS) debris discs around young main-sequence stars.This cold gas has been...

Context. DZ Cha is a weak-lined T Tauri star (WTTS) surrounded by a bright protoplanetary disc with evidence of inner disc clearing. Its narrow H α line and infrared spectral energy distribution suggest that DZ Cha may be a photoevaporating disc. Aims. We aim to analyse the DZ Cha star + disc system to identify the mechanism driving the evolution o...

DZ Cha is a weak-lined T Tauri star (WTTS) surrounded by a bright protoplanetary disc with evidence of inner disc clearing. Its narrow $\Ha$ line and infrared spectral energy distribution suggest that DZ Cha may be a photoevaporating disc. We aim to analyse the DZ Cha star + disc system to identify the mechanism driving the evolution of this object...

We announce the discovery of EPIC218916923 b, a transiting warm-Jupiter ($T_\mathrm{eq}$=555$\pm$11 K) on a 29-day orbit around an active (log$R^\prime_\mathrm{HK}$ = $-$4.49 $\pm$ 0.03) K0 V star in K2 Campaign 7. We derive the system's parameters by combining the K2 photometry with ground-based follow-up observations. With a mass of $M_\mathrm{p}...

We present an intensive monitoring of high-resolution spectra of the Ca {\sc ii} K line in the A7IV shell star $\Phi$ Leo at very short (minutes, hours), short (night to night), and medium term (weeks, months) timescales. The spectra show remarkable variable absorptions on timescales of hours, days and months. The characteristics of these sporadic...

We present an intensive monitoring of high-resolution spectra of the Ca {\sc ii} K line in the A7IV shell star $\Phi$ Leo at very short (minutes, hours), short (night to night), and medium (weeks, months) timescales. The spectra show remarkable variable absorptions on timescales of hours, days, and months. The characteristics of these sporadic even...

Transitional disks are protoplanetary disks with opacity gaps/cavities in their dust distribution, a feature that may be linked to planet formation. We perform Bayesian modeling of the three transitional disks SZ Cha, CS Cha and T25 including photometry from the Herschel Space Observatory to quantify the improvements added by these new data. We fin...

Transitional disks are protoplanetary disks with opacity gaps/cavities in their dust distribution, a feature that may be linked to planet formation. We perform Bayesian modeling of the three transitional disks SZ Cha, CS Cha and T25 including photometry from the Herschel Space Observatory to quantify the improvements added by these new data. We fin...

Protoplanetary discs are the birthplace for planets. Studying protoplanetary discs is the key to constraining theories of planet formation. By observing dust and gas in associations at different ages we can study the evolution of these discs, their clearing timescales, and their physical and geometrical properties. The stellar association Eta Cha i...

Context. Observations of nearby star-forming regions with the Herschel Space Observatory complement our view of the protoplanetary disks in Ophiuchus with information about the outer disks. Aims. The main goal of this project is to provide new far-infrared fluxes for the known disks in the core region of Ophiuchus and to identify potential transiti...