Abstract

We report on the detection of 3 new extrasolar planets from a precise Doppler survey of G and K giants at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory. The host stars, 18 Del (G6 III), |$\xi $|Aql (K0 III) and HD81688 (K0 III-IV), are located in the clump region on the HR diagram with estimated masses of 2.1-2.3|$M_{\odot}$|⁠. 18Del b has a minimum mass of |$10.3 M_{\rm J}$| and resides in a nearly circular orbit with period of 993d, which is the longest one around evolved stars. |$\xi $| Aql b and HD81688 b have minimum masses of 2.8 and 2.7|$M_{\rm J}$|⁠, and reside in nearly circular orbits with periods of 137 and 184d, respectively, which are the shortest ones around evolved stars. All of the substellar companions ever discovered around intermediate-mass (1.7-3.9|$M_{\odot}$|⁠) clump giants have semimajor axes larger than 0.68AU, suggesting a lack of short-period planets. Our numerical calculations suggest that Jupiter-mass planets within about 0.5AU (even up to 1AU, depending on the metallicity and adopted models) around 2-3|$M_{\odot}$| stars could be engulfed by the central stars at the tip of RGB due to tidal torque from the central stars. Assuming that most of the clump giants are post-RGB stars, we can not distinguish whether the lack of short-period planets is primordial, or due to engulfment by central stars.

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