Investigating the System Configuration of Kepler-451 through Orbital Period Variations: Dynamical and Magnetic Interpretations

We present an analysis of eclipse timing variations in Kepler-451 using data spanning 2004-2024 from both ground- and space-based observations. Using two data sets, Data Set A (DS-A) and Data Set B (DS-B), we constructed updated O-C diagrams. By modeling both data sets with various light-travel time (LTT) configurations, we tested for the presence of circumbinary companions. For DS-A, the two-companion model (LTT34) provides the best fit with rms = 3.23 s and chi nu 2=1.23 , while adding a fifth body (LTT345) does not improve the fit (rms = 3.24 s, chi nu 2=1.28 ). For DS-B, the three-companion model (LTT345) yields the best fit (rms = 2.31 s, chi nu 2=1.01 ), although the semiamplitude of the inner companion (1.34 s) is smaller than the systematic error (1.81 s), suggesting it may originate from observational or calibration systematics. Applegate-mechanism tests indicate that most signals exceed the available energy budget, while the outer LTT terms in both data sets remain consistent with the Standard Model and may have a magnetic origin. Removing these magnetic terms yields dynamically stable configurations for at least 107 yr. These findings support the presence of a second-generation circumbinary planet at similar to 3.4 au around Kepler-451, while the origin of the remaining LTT signals remains uncertain.

Journal

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL

Year

2025

Volume

994

Issue

1

ISSN

0004-637X

eISSN

1538-4357

DOI

10.3847/1538-4357/ae1029

WoS UID

WOS:001614501300001