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# Quantum 2D Heisenberg antiferromagnet: bridging the gap between field-theoretical and semiclassical approaches

## Abstract

The field-theoretical result for the low-$`T`$ behaviour of the correlation length of the quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the square lattice was recently improved by Hasenfratz \[Eur. Phys. J. B 13, 11 (2000)\], who corrected for cutoff effects. We show that starting from his expression, and exploiting our knowledge of the classical thermodynamics of the model, it is possible to take into account non-linear effects which are responsible for the main features of the correlation length at intermediate temperature. Moreover, we find that cutoff effects lead to the appearance of an effective exchange integral depending on the very same renormalization coefficients derived in the framework of the semiclassical pure-quantum self-consistent harmonic approximation: The gap between quantum field-theoretical and semiclassical results is here eventually bridged.

In the last two decades, thermodynamic properties of the quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the square-lattice (QHAF) have been determined by a number of substantially different methods. Theoretical predictions were compared with experimental data for real compounds Expt , as well as with numerical simulations obtained by different methods BBB ; KimT1998 , and also with high-$`T`$ series expansions ElstnerSSGB1995 . Despite this effort, however, a comprehensive picture of the subject has not yet been formulated.

Much of the analysis and debate on the QHAF has focused on the temperature- and spin-dependence of the staggered correlation length $`\xi (T,S)`$. Goal of this paper is to show that $`\xi (T,S)`$ can be expressed as

$$\xi (T,S)=\xi _{\mathrm{cl}}\left(\frac{T}{J_{\mathrm{eff}}(T,S)}\right),$$
(1)
where the effective exchange integral $`J_{\mathrm{eff}}(T,S)`$ embodies quantum effects and is defined in terms of purely quantum spin-fluctuations, while $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}}(T/J_{\mathrm{cl}})`$ is the correlation length of the classical HAF. In particular, we find that Eq. (1), besides being the outcome of the semiclassical pure-quantum self-consistent harmonic approximation (PQSCHA) CTVV199697 , remarkably holds also for the quantum field-theoretical prediction QFT , as recently improved by Hasenfratz Hasenfratz2000 . On the other hand, we show that the PQSCHA, when properly designed to such purpose, allows for a correct description of the low-$`T`$ regime, via the appearance of the very same $`J_{\mathrm{eff}}(T,S)`$ implicitly entering Hasenfratz’s expression.

It is a definite suprise that a typical semiclassical expression such as Eq. (1), come out of a field-theoretical result, especially in the case of the QHAF, where semiclassical and field-theoretical approaches seemed destined to describe different regions of the $`(T,S)`$ plane, with no possible overlap.

The QHAF is defined by the spin Hamiltonian

$$\widehat{}=\frac{J}{2}\underset{𝒊𝒅}{}\widehat{𝑺}_𝐢\widehat{𝑺}_{𝒊+𝒅},$$
(2)
where $`J>0`$, $`𝒊=(i_1,i_2)`$, $`𝒅=(\pm 1,\pm 1)`$, and lengths are in lattice units; the spin operators $`\widehat{𝑺}_𝒊=(\widehat{S}_𝒊^x,\widehat{S}_𝒊^y,\widehat{S}_𝒊^z)`$ satisfy $`|\widehat{𝑺}_𝒊|^2=S(S+1)`$.

The correlation length $`\xi (T,S)`$ is defined via the asymptotic behaviour, $`lim_{|𝒓|\mathrm{}}G(𝒓)e^{|𝒓|/\xi }`$, of the staggered correlation function $`G(𝒓)(1)^{r_1+r_2}\widehat{S}_𝒊^z\widehat{S}_{𝒊+𝒓}^z`$ , with $`𝒓=(r_1,r_2)`$ any vector on the square lattice.

The classical counterpart of the QHAF corresponds to the limit $`S\mathrm{}`$ with $`JS^2J_{\mathrm{cl}}`$, that gives the classical Hamiltonian $`=(J_{\mathrm{cl}}/2)_{𝒊𝒅}𝒔_𝒊𝒔_{𝒊+𝒅}`$, where $`𝒔_𝒊`$ are classical unit vectors and $`J_{\mathrm{cl}}`$ is the only energy scale of the model.

Let us consider the right-hand side of Eq. (1): The 3-loop analytical expression for the classical correlation length, as from the field-theoretical approach CFT , is

$$\xi _{\mathrm{cl}(3\mathrm{l})}(\frac{T}{J_{\mathrm{cl}}})=\frac{e^{1\pi /2}}{8\sqrt{32}}\frac{T}{2\pi J_{\mathrm{cl}}}e^{{\scriptscriptstyle \frac{2\pi J_{\mathrm{cl}}}{T}}}\left[1\frac{0.574T}{2\pi J_{\mathrm{cl}}}+O(T^2)\right].$$
(3)
This expression is quantitatively correct up to $`T/J_{\mathrm{cl}}0.4`$ . Above this temperature it smoothly connects to the exact Monte Carlo data for the classical model CMC , so that the exact classical correlation length $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}}(T/J_{\mathrm{cl}})`$ gets available for all temperatures.

As for the left-hand side of Eq. (1), the most celebrated field-theoretical result is the 3-loop expression derived from the correlation length of the quantum nonlinear $`\sigma `$-model (QNL$`\sigma `$M) QFT ,

$$\xi _{3\mathrm{l}}(T,S)=\frac{e}{8}\frac{c}{2\pi \rho __S}e^{{\scriptscriptstyle \frac{2\pi \rho __S}{T}}}\left[1\frac{1}{2}\frac{T}{2\pi \rho __S}+O\left(\frac{T^2}{S^4}\right)\right].$$
(4)
The mapping to the QHAF consists of identifying $`c`$ and $`\rho __S`$ with the zero-$`T`$ renormalized spin velocity and spin stiffness of the system

$$c=2\sqrt{2}JSZ_c(S),\rho __S=JS^2Z_\rho (S),$$
(5)
with $`Z_c(S)`$ and $`Z_\rho (S)`$ quantum renormalization coefficients; for $`c`$ and $`\rho __S`$ we will hereafter use the most accurate available values SWT , as from their expansion up to $`O(S^2)`$ and $`O(S^3)`$, respectively.

One of the essential features of Eq. (4) is the temperature-independent pre-exponential factor $`(e/8)(c/2\pi \rho __S)`$, which contrasts with the $`O(T)`$ prefactor of the classical Eq. (3). The $`O(1)`$ prefactor gives a purely exponential asymptotic behaviour $`\xi e^{A/T}`$, with $`A2\pi JS^2`$, which is also the outcome of other theoretical methods such as the Schwinger-boson approach ArovasA1988  and the modified spin-wave theory Takahashi1989 . Thus the behaviour $`\xi e^{A/T}`$ has been generally regarded as a signature of the quantum character of the model. Early numerical studies suggested this signature is observed in the experimentally accessible temperature region of $`S=1/2`$ antiferromagnets Mak91 . In the last few years, however, this assumption has proved misleading in subtle ways, as severe difficulties arose when approaching the $`S1`$ case by the effective field-theory. Finally, in Ref. BBB,  it was clearly shown that Eq. (4) holds only for temperatures low enough to ensure an extremely large correlation length, e.g., $`\xi 10^5`$ for $`S=1`$, $`\xi 10^{12}`$ for $`S=3/2`$, and generally cosmological correlation lengths for $`S>3/2`$.

In Ref. Hasenfratz2000,  Hasenfratz explained why cutoff effects, which are so devious for $`S=1/2`$, significantly modify the correlation length for $`S1`$. By exploiting a direct mapping between the QHAF and the QNL$`\sigma `$M, Hasenfratz obtained the cutoff-corrected field-theoretical result

$$\xi __\mathrm{H}(T,S)=\xi _{3\mathrm{l}}(T,S)e^{C(T,S)},$$
(6)
where $`C(T,S)`$, defined in Eq. (14) of Ref. Hasenfratz2000, , is an integral of familiar spin-wave quantities over the first Brillouin zone. With this correction, which is the leading order in the spin-wave expansion for the cutoff correction, it is possible to obtain numerically accurate results down to $`\xi 10^3`$ for all $`S`$. Eq. (6) is therefore the best available prediction of the field-theoretical approach.

Our first step is to note that the function $`C(T,S)`$ may be written as

$`C(T,S){\displaystyle \frac{\pi }{2}}+\mathrm{ln}{\displaystyle \frac{16JS\zeta _1(0,S)}{T}}`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{2\pi JS^2\zeta _1(0,S)}{T}}\left[\delta \zeta _1(T,S)+\delta \zeta _0(T,S)\right],`$ (7)
where $`\delta \zeta _i(T,S)=\zeta _i(T,S)\zeta _i(0,S)=O(T/S^2)`$, and

$$\zeta _i(T,S)=1+\frac{1}{2S}\frac{1}{2SN}\underset{𝒌}{}\frac{(1\gamma _𝒌^2)^{1/2}}{(1\gamma _𝒌)^{1i}}_𝒌(T,S),$$
(8)
$`_𝒌(T,S)`$ $`=`$ $`\mathrm{coth}{\displaystyle \frac{\omega _𝒌(S)}{2T}}{\displaystyle \frac{2T}{\omega _𝒌(S)}},`$ (9)
$`\omega _𝒌(S)`$ $`=`$ $`4JS\zeta _1(0,S)\sqrt{1\gamma _𝒌^2},`$ (10)
with sums over wavevectors $`𝒌=(k_1,k_2)`$ in the first Brillouin zone, and $`\gamma _𝒌=(\mathrm{cos}k_1+\mathrm{cos}k_2)/2`$.

From the above formulas we find

$$\xi __\mathrm{H}(T,S)=\alpha _1(T,S)\xi _{\mathrm{cl}(3\mathrm{l})}\left(\frac{T}{JS^2}\right)\alpha _2(T,S)\alpha _3(T,S),$$
(11)
with

$`\alpha _1(T,S)`$ $`=`$ $`\frac{Z_c}{Z_\rho }e^{{\scriptscriptstyle \frac{2\pi JS^2}{T}}(Z_\rho 1)},`$
$`\alpha _2(T,S)`$ $`=`$ $`\frac{1}{\zeta _1(0,S)}e^{{\scriptscriptstyle \frac{2\pi JS^2}{T}}\zeta _1(0,S)(\delta \zeta _1+\delta \zeta _0)},`$
$`\alpha _3(T,S)`$ $`=`$ $`\left[1\frac{T}{2\pi JS^2}\left(\frac{1}{2Z_\rho }0.574\right)+O\left(\frac{T^2}{S^4}\right)\right];`$
notice that $`\alpha _1`$ is an exact coefficient, while $`\alpha _2`$ is given at the first order in $`1/S`$ as from Ref. Hasenfratz2000, : this is a signature of the different approaches used in determining $`\xi _{3\mathrm{l}}`$ and $`C(T,S)`$. As for $`\alpha _3`$, it contains the 3-loop correction terms of the field-theoretical results.

In order to single out the relevant temperature scale in the exponential factor of Eq. (11), one can embody the $`O(S^1)`$ terms of the leading exponential in the argument of $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}(3\mathrm{l})}`$: to this end we explicitly write $`Z_\rho `$ and $`Z_c`$ from their spin-wave theory expression SWT

$$Z_c=\zeta _1(0,S)+\mathrm{\Delta }Z_c,Z_\rho =\zeta _1(0,S)\zeta _0(0,S)+\mathrm{\Delta }Z_\rho ,$$
(12)
where $`\mathrm{\Delta }Z_c`$ and $`\mathrm{\Delta }Z_\rho `$ are $`O(S^2)`$, and find

$$\xi __\mathrm{H}(T,S)=\xi _{\mathrm{cl}(3\mathrm{l})}\left(\frac{T}{J_{\mathrm{eff}(\mathrm{H})}(T,S)}\right)\alpha (T,S)$$
(13)
with

$`J_{\mathrm{eff}(\mathrm{H})}(T,S)=JS^2\zeta _0(T,S)\zeta _1(T,S),`$ (14)
$`\alpha (T,S)=[(1+\delta \zeta _1+\delta \zeta _0+O(S^2)]`$
$`\times \left[1\frac{T}{2\pi }\left(\frac{1}{2JS^2Z_\rho }\frac{0.574}{J_{\mathrm{eff}(\mathrm{H})}}\right)+O\left(\frac{T^2}{S^4}\right)\right].`$ (15)
At this level, the classical correlation length enters Eq.(13) by its 3-loop NL$`\sigma `$M expression, Eq.(3). However, inspired by the PQSCHA result of Ref. CTVV199697, , we are led to generalize Eq. (13) by replacing $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}(3\mathrm{l})}`$ with the exact $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}}`$, which is numerically available at all temperatures. This is a fundamental step in order to get Eq. (13) to reproduce the experimental and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) data in the intermediate temperature range, a goal that Eq. (6) does not accomplish yet.

In Fig. 1 we show the ratio $`\xi /\xi _{3\mathrm{l}}`$ as a function of $`T/JS^2`$ for $`S=5/2`$. The solid line is obtained by replacing $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}(3\mathrm{l})}`$ in Eq.(13) with the exact $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}}`$. Compared with Hasenfratz’s expression (dash-dotted line), the agreement with our QMC data greatly improves, just because the classical correlation length is accounted for exactly.

It is worthwhile mentioning that one could use the exact $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}}`$ already in Eq. (11) (dotted line in Fig. 1): such curve shows that the pronounced minimum in the ratio $`\xi /\xi _{3\mathrm{l}}`$, a feature that field-theoretical results do not reproduce, is due to substantially classical nonlinear effects which need a non-perturbative (or exact) treatment; this is confirmed by comparing the classical exact $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}}`$ (thin solid) and 3-loop $`\xi _{\mathrm{cl}(3\mathrm{l})}`$ (thin dash-dotted) lines, reported in Fig. 1 by fixing $`J_{\mathrm{cl}}`$ to the classical limit ($`_𝒌=0`$) of $`J_{\mathrm{eff}(\mathrm{H})}`$. The correct position of the minimum, on the other hand, is found by properly singling out the dominant temperature scale for the quantum correlation length, i.e., by determining the appropriate effective exchange integral. To this respect, by comparing Eq. (14) with Eqs. (5) and (12), one can see that $`J_{\mathrm{eff}(\mathrm{H})}(T,S)`$ tends to $`\rho __S`$ for $`T0`$ and can be actually interpreted as a temperature-dependent spin stiffness $`\rho __S(T)`$.

Finally, we drop the 3-loop correction terms, set the residual $`\alpha (T,S)`$ to unity, and eventually obtain Eq. (1), with the effective exchange integral Eq. (14). The corresponding curve is shown in Fig. 1 by the thin dashed line. The anomalous behaviour seen as $`T\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}0}`$ has no physical meaning: in fact, when considering $`\xi `$ as in Eq. (1) with $`J_{\mathrm{eff}(\mathrm{H})}`$, the ratio $`\xi /\xi _{3\mathrm{l}}`$ contains a vanishing factor $`\mathrm{exp}(2\pi JS^2\mathrm{\Delta }Z_\rho /T)`$, due to the fact that $`\rho __S`$ in $`\xi _{3\mathrm{l}}`$ is taken up to $`O(S^3)`$, while $`J_{\mathrm{eff}(\mathrm{H})}`$ is only taken up to $`O(S^2)`$. To this respect, it is worthwhile noticing that Hasenfratz’s expression (6) is spurious as far as the order in $`1/S`$ is concerned, because $`C(T,S)`$ and $`\xi _{3\mathrm{l}}`$ are accurate up to $`O(S^1)`$ and $`O(S^3)`$, respectively. This originates few other inconsistencies in the $`1/S`$ approximation, essentially contained in the $`O(S^2)`$ terms of Eq. (15), which result in slight discrepancies from the expected values. Nevertheless, the thin dashed line reproduces the behaviour drawn by QMC data in the whole temperature range and bridges the low- and intermediate-$`T`$ regime, a success never scored before.

Let us now comment on the above result. First of all, we notice that $`J_{\mathrm{eff}(\mathrm{H})}`$ depends just on the pure-quantum part of the spin-fluctuations, i.e., the difference between the quantum and the classical spin-fluctuations CGTVV1995  (the signature of this being the Langevin functions Eq. (9)). In particular, the renormalization factors $`\zeta _0(T,S)`$ and $`\zeta _1(T,S)`$ represent the effect of the pure-quantum fluctuations of each spin with respect to its local alignment axis and to its nearest-neighbors, respectively.

By considering Eq. (14) with the low-$`T`$ expansions

$`\delta \zeta _0(T,S)`$ $`\underset{T0}{}`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{T}{2\pi JS^2\zeta _1(0,S)}}\mathrm{ln}{\displaystyle \frac{16JS\zeta _1(0,S)}{T}}+O(T^3),`$
$`\delta \zeta _1(T,S)`$ $`\underset{T0}{}`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{T}{4JS^2\zeta _1(0,S)}}+O(T^3),`$
one sees that it is the pure-quantum on-site renormalization parameter $`\zeta _0(T,S)`$ that cancels the classical-like pre-exponential factor. This suggests that the asymptotic behaviour of Eq. (4) sets in when pure-quantum fluctuations of one spin relative to its nearest neighbors become negligible, and spins are mainly affected by on-site fluctuations of pure-quantum origin.

At this point, we recall that the pure-quantum renormalization coefficients $`\zeta _0(T,S)`$ and $`\zeta _1(T,S)`$ are characteristic of the PQSCHA, by which the correlation length of the QHAF in the form of Eq. (1) was first obtained CTVV199697  with

$$J_{\mathrm{eff}}(T,S)=JS^2\zeta _1^2(T,S).$$
(16)
The resemblance between Eqs. (14) and (16) is remarkable, given the fact that the PQSCHA is a completely different method from that used by Hasenfratz. However, the PQSCHA fails to describe the regime of very low-$`T`$, e.g., for $`S=1/2`$ it holds only for $`T0.2J`$ CTVV199697 ; PRLcommrepl1997 ; Hasenfratz2000 .

In particular, the PQSCHA has been criticized because the expression Eq. (16) does not lead to the correct low-$`T`$ asymptotic behaviour of $`\xi `$. In fact, we here show that the PQSCHA may be properly designed to describe the low-$`T`$ regime, thus reproducing Eq. (4), though with $`c`$ and $`\rho __S`$ only given at the first order in $`1/S`$. This is an essential issue, as it means that the QHAF, even in the low-$`T`$ limit, is a system with separable classical and pure-quantum aspects.

One of the main steps in deriving the PQSCHA for a magnetic system is the construction of an effective classical spin Hamiltonian from that written in terms of canonical variables CGTVV1995 . For the sake of clarity, we use $`(𝒑,𝒒)=\{p_𝒊,q_𝒊\}`$ and $`𝒔=\{𝒔_𝒊\}`$ to indicate the set of classical canonical variables and unit vectors, respectively, needed to describe the classical system (see Ref. CTVV199697,  for detailed definitions). For the partition function of the QHAF one finds $`𝒵=𝑑𝒑𝑑𝒒\mathrm{exp}((𝒑,𝒒)_{\mathrm{eff}}/T)`$ with

$$_{\mathrm{eff}}(𝒑,𝒒)=\theta ^4(\frac{𝒑}{\theta },\frac{𝒒}{\theta })\theta ^4(𝒔)$$
(17)
and $`\theta ^2(1+1/2S)^1\zeta _1`$; the further scaling $`𝒑\theta 𝒑`$ and $`𝒒\theta 𝒒`$ reproduces the classical-like Heisenberg Hamiltonian $`(𝒔)=J(S+1/2)^2\theta ^4_{𝒊𝒅}𝒔_𝒊𝒔_{𝒊+𝒅}`$, thus defining $`J_{\mathrm{eff}}`$ as in Eq. (16). When the correlation functions are considered, different scaling laws come into play, via the integral

$$G(𝒓)𝑑𝒑𝑑𝒒g_{\mathrm{eff}}(𝒓;𝒑,𝒒)e^{_{\mathrm{eff}}(𝒑,𝒒)/T}$$
(18)
where $`g_{\mathrm{eff}}`$ scales according to

$$g_{\mathrm{eff}}(𝒓;𝒑,𝒒)=\theta _𝒓^4g(𝒓;\frac{𝒑}{\theta _𝒓},\frac{𝒒}{\theta _𝒓})\theta _𝒓^4g(𝒓;𝒔)$$
(19)
with $`g(𝒓;𝒔)=N^1_𝒊𝒔_i𝒔_{𝒊+𝒓}`$; $`\theta _𝒓^2`$ is a pure-quantum renormalization coefficient defined in Ref. CTVV199697, . As both $`(𝒑,𝒒)`$ and $`g(𝒓;𝒑,𝒒)`$ are biquadratic functions, the different scalings (with $`\theta `$ or $`\theta _𝒓`$) conflict. At intermediate $`T`$, thermodynamics is governed by many different spin configurations, and the effective Hamiltonian appearing in the Boltzmann factor in Eq. (18) dominates (i.e., scaling with $`\theta `$ is preferable CTVV199697 ): this gives Eq. (16). At low-$`T`$ the quartic terms in the effective Hamiltonian do not matter, and the scaling conflict is settled: therefore, the best evaluation of the integral (18) is made by scaling with $`\theta _𝒓`$, so that the prefactor $`\theta ^4`$ in Eq. (17) is replaced by $`\theta ^2\theta _𝒓^2`$. As for increasing $`|𝒓|`$ the coefficient $`\theta _𝒓`$ rapidly converges to $`(1+1/2S)^1\zeta _0`$, the PQSCHA effective exchange for the low-$`T`$ correlation length reads $`JS^2\zeta _0\zeta _1`$, consistent with Eq. (14).

A quantitative comparison between Hasenfratz’s and PQSCHA results should also take into account some important details concerning the spin-wave dispersion relation used to evaluate the pure-quantum renormalization factors Eqs. (8). We just mention that in order to avoid ambiguities due to the ordering prescription one should definitely prefer the zero-$`T`$ renormalized frequencies (10) to the bare frequencies originally used by Hasenfratz. In fact, the PQSCHA method CTVV199697 ; CGTVV1995  uses even more refined temperature- and configuration-dependent renormalized frequencies; treating them within the so-called low-coupling approximation yields a more accurate finite-$`T`$ expression, which is crucial for quantitative accuracy in evaluating thermodynamic quantities CTVV199697 .

In this paper we have shown that, when cutoff effects are properly taken into account, the field theoretical expression for the correlation length of the QHAF analitically contains its classical counterpart, according to a simple equation that gives the former in terms of the latter with an effective exchange integral. Such equation surprisingly holds at all temperatures. Once the exact classical correlation length is available, the above result is used to make clear that the main features of the quantum correlation length at intermediate temperatures are due to essentially classical non-linear effects, which cannot be taken into account by perturbative approaches. Moreover, the effective exchange integral is seen to depend on the same pure-quantum renormalization coefficients defined by the PQSCHA, according to an expression which is very similar (equal) to that found by the latter approach in its standard (low-$`T`$) version.

The idea that an effective exchange integral may be uniquely defined for all thermodynamic quantities of the QHAF, as predicted by the PQSCHA, is suggestive and deserves, in our opinion, further investigation by the field-theoretical community.

###### Acknowledgements.

This work was supported by MURST in the framework of the COFIN00 program No. MM02102319 and by INFM through the IS-Sezione D (2001). B. B. B. wishes to thank the Physics Department of the University of Firenze for hospitality.


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# The CORALIE survey for southern extra-solar planets.

## 1 Introduction

The increasing timebase of the radial-velocity surveys searching for extra-solar planets allows the different planet-hunter teams to announce new planetary candidates on longer and longer periods. This growing period-interval coverage is very important. With the enlargement of the available statistics, new properties of the planetary period distribution are emerging. They provide interesting new constraints for the migration scenarios (for a recent review see Udry-2003:d).

On the other hand short-period planets, easier to detect because of the larger reflex motions induced on the primaries and the better phase coverage for orbital-element determinations, were rapidly detected. An almost complete census of these systems is available in well-covered surveys. In the case of our CORALIE planet-search programme (Udry-2000:a), the number of targets is very large ($``$ 1650) and there are still candidates with only few measurements. From this survey, we present here a new short-period planet orbiting the star HD 73256, detected thanks to very recent radial-velocity observations.

The parent star description, radial-velocity measurements, orbital solutions and inferred planetary characteristics for this new candidate are presented in Sects. 2 and 3. Hot Jupiters are promising candidates for photometric transit searches so, in Sect. 4, we describe our photometric observations aiming first to detect a potential planetary transit and then to check the star photometric stability. In Sect. 5, we discuss photometric and line bisector measurements in relation to the activity-induced radial-velocity jitter observed on top of the Keplerian orbital variation. Finally, Sect. 6 gives a summary of the results and some concluding remarks.

## 2 Stellar characteristics of HD 73256

HD 73256 (HIP 42214) is a G8/K0 dwarf in the southern Pyxis constellation. The HIPPARCOS catalogue (ESA-97) lists a visual magnitude $`V`$ = 8.08, a colour index $`B`$$`V`$ = 0.782, and a precise astrometric parallax $`\pi `$ = 27.38 $`\pm `$ 0.77 mas that sets the star at a distance of 36.5 pc from the Sun. Its absolute magnitude is then estimated to be $`M_V`$ = 5.27, slightly overluminous for a typical G8 dwarf. This is probably due to the enhanced metallicity content of the star (see below).

From a high-resolution spectroscopic abundance study of HD 73256, we have determined precise values of its effective temperature ($`T_{\mathrm{eff}}`$ = 5570 $`\pm `$ 40 K), metallicity (\[Fe/H\] = 0.29 $`\pm `$ 0.05) and gravity ($`\mathrm{log}g`$ = 4.66 $`\pm `$ 0.10), using a standard local thermodynamical equilibrium (LTE) analysis (see Santos-2000:c, for error estimates). From calibrations of the width and surface of the CORALIE cross-correlation functions (CCF; described in Santos-2002) we can also derive estimates of $`v\mathrm{sin}i`$ = 3.22 km s-1 and \[Fe/H\] = 0.27111These calibrated estimates, although statistical, are reliable. A comparison between spectroscopic and CCF-calibrated metallicities yields a small uncertainty of only 0.05 dex due to the calibration (Santos-2002). The high metal content is a recurrent property of stars hosting planets (for a review see e.g. Santos-2003:a, and references therein).

From the colour index and $`T_{\mathrm{eff}}`$ we derive a bolometric correction $`BC`$ = $`0.122`$ (Flower-96). The star luminosity is then estimated to be $`L`$ = 0.69 L. Note however that Flower’s calibrations do not take metallicity into account. According to the tracks of the Geneva evolution models with appropriate metal abundance (Schaerer-93), the position of the star in the HR diagram indicates a mass $`M_{}`$$``$ 1.05 M. This mass is higher than typical values for G8/K0 dwarfs because of the high metallicity of the star.

The models also suggest a completely unconstrained age close to 1 Gyr for the star, in agreement with its measured high activity level. HD 73256 belongs to the sample surveyed by Henry-96 for Ca ii H and K chromospheric emission. It is found to be fairly active with an index $`\mathrm{log}R_{HK}^{}`$ = $`4.49`$. Chromospheric emission is also directly visible on the coaddition of our CORALIE spectra (Fig 1). Following the calibration by Donahue-93, this activity index value points towards a young stellar age around 830 Myr.

From the relation between the activity index and stellar rotation period (Noyes-84), we derive a period of rotation $`P_{\mathrm{rot}}`$$``$ 13.9 days for HD 73256. Assuming that the orbital and rotation axes coincide222This is verified for HD 209458 (Queloz-2000:a), a “statistical” equatorial velocity $`v_{\mathrm{eq}}`$ can be derived from the radius of the star. The orbital plane inclination is then obtained from the measured projected rotational velocity $`v\mathrm{sin}i`$ = 3.22 km s-1. Using the simple relation between stellar luminosity, radius and effective temperature $`L`$ = $`4\pi R^2\sigma T_{\mathrm{eff}}^4`$ and with the stellar parameter values given above, the radius is estimated to be $``$ 0.89 R. This leads to a value $`v_{\mathrm{eq}}`$$``$ 3.26 km s-1, very close to the quoted $`v\mathrm{sin}i`$ ($`\mathrm{sin}i`$$``$ 0.98). The true mass of the planet is thus not expected to be very different from the derived minimum mass. The short period and favourable inclination make HD 73256 a good candidate for a photometric transit search (see Sect. 4).

The observed and inferred stellar parameters are summarized in Table 1. Due to the fair activity level of the star some radial-velocity jitter is expected on a typical timescale of the order of the rotational period. This is discussed in Sect. 5.

## 3 CORALIE orbital solution for HD 73256

The first observation with CORALIE of HD 73256 started in February 2001 (JD = 2 451 964.67). However, almost 2 years elapsed before we observed the star again. Because of the clear radial-velocity difference between the 2 measurements, the star was then intensively followed during more than 2 months. Like this, we have gathered 40 precise radial velocities. The photon-noise errors of individual measurements are typically of 4–5 m s-1 despite the relative faintness of the star for our 1.2-m telescope.

The best Keplerian model reproducing the observations yields an accurately constrained orbital period of 2.54858 $`\pm `$ 0.00016 days, a non-significant eccentricity $`e`$ = 0.029 $`\pm `$ 0.02, and a semi-amplitude $`K`$ = 269 $`\pm `$ 8 m s-1 of radial-velocity variation. Uncertainties are estimated through Monte-Carlo simulations. The phase-folded radial-velocity curve is displayed in Fig. 2 (top).

Using the derived 1.05 M mass for HD 73256, the best-fit parameters lead to a companion minimum mass $`m_2\mathrm{sin}i`$ = 1.87 MJup and a separation $`a`$ = 0.037 AU between the star and the planet. This inferred separation is the 3rd smallest known to date amongst hot Jupiters, after the 2 OGLE (Udalski-2002:a; Udalski-2002:b) candidates recently proposed (Konacki-2003; Dreizler-2003) but for which stronger radial-velocity confirmations are, however, required. At such a small distance the planet is strongly heated by its parent star. From recent models of irradiated planets with condensed dust atmospheres, Barman et al. (in prep) estimate the planet day-side temperature to be around 1500 K (see also Baraffe-2003, for intrinsic temperature estimates). The complete set of orbital elements with their uncertainties and the inferred planetary parameters are given in Table 2.

The measured weighted r.m.s. around the solution is $`\sigma (OC)`$ = 14.8 m s-1, a high value compared to the individual photon-noise error. Moreover, some structure is clearly apparent in the residuals drawn as a function of the Julian date (Fig. 2, bottom). The possible periodicity of the residuals is discussed in Sect. 5 in relation with the activity and rotational period of the star.

## 4 Photometric observations

With its 2.55-day period, the HD 73256 system is a good candidate for photometric transit search. Furthermore, as discussed above, a favourable geometry could be expected from activity indicator and rotational velocity considerations. We have thus rapidly launched an intensive campaign of high-precision differential photometry in order to detect a possible planetary transit.

The photometric $`uvby`$ observations were obtained with the Strömgren Automatic Telescope (SAT) at ESO La Silla, Chile. Details on the standard observational and reduction strategy can be found in Clausen-2001. HD 72673, HD 72954AB, and HD 71583 were used as comparison stars. Continuous differential observations were carried out, on two nights, for several hours around the predicted transit times (Fig. 3). Typical r.m.s. errors of one magnitude difference are 0.003-0.004 ($`ybv`$) and 0.005-0.006 ($`u`$). Unfortunately, no transit indication is found. This implies an orbital inclination smaller than $`i`$$``$ 82.5  (i.e. $`\mathrm{sin}i`$$``$ 0.99).

However, the data show different magnitude levels from one night to the other (different symbols in the figure). The star is also known to be active. Thus, in order to check for photometric variability, HD 73256 was also regularly monitored, over several additional nights, to cover the complete interval of orbital phases. The result is shown in Fig. 4 (top) displaying the observed differential magnitudes ($`\mathrm{\Delta }(y)`$) as a function of the Julian date. A periodic variation is clearly visible over the time span of the observations. A Fourier transform of the data333Without the last few days for which the photometric phase seems to have changed yields a period of 13.97 days (Fig. 5), in very good agreement with the rotational period derived from the activity index (13.9 days). The photometric variation can thus be interpreted as due to spots on the surface of the star. Such spots not only perturb the observed stellar luminosity over a few rotational periods but also induce a spurious radial-velocity jitter, observable as a radial-velocity variation of similar periodicity (see Sect. 5.2 below).

## 5 Effect of stellar activity

### 5.1 Ruling out activity as the origin of the main radial-velocity signal

Most extra-solar giant planets have been detected through variations of the observed radial-velocity of solar-type stars. Such variations may also be induced by stellar activity related phenomena (like spots) over a few rotational periods. The corresponding radial-velocity amplitude can reach a few tens of m s-1 (Saar-97; Saar-98; Santos-2000:b). Moreover, this amplitude increases with the rotational velocity of the star. For HD 73256, $`v\mathrm{sin}i`$ is not very high, so we do not expect much effect from activity. Nevertheless, the measured fair activity level of the star calls for an a posteriori check to assert the orbital solution as the best explanation for the observations. First, the photometric measurements vary with a timescale much longer than the orbital period suggesting different origins for the radial-velocity and photometric variations. This can be further checked by controlling the shape of the spectral lines, expected to vary in the case of spot-induced radial-velocity variations. A powerful diagnostic is directly available from our spectra by computing the bisector inverse slope (BIS) of the cross-correlation functions used for the radial-velocity determination (Queloz-2001:a). In case of phased variations of radial velocities and bisector slopes, we expect a tight correlation between these two quantities. This is not observed for the 2.55-day period phasing of the data (Fig 6). Also, no indication of variation of the photometric and BIS data is seen in the Fourier space at the position of the orbital period (Fig. 5). We thus can exclude activity as the source of the observed main radial-velocity variation. A planetary companion is the best explanation.

### 5.2 Activity as the source of radial-velocity noise

We have noticed in previous sections that the star presents periodic patterns in the photometric data and in the residuals around the Keplerian orbital solution as well. We shall now examine the possibility for these variations to be explained by stellar activity-induced spots.

First, we show that the two quantities present variations of similar timescales (13.97 days), furthermore compatible with the rotation period deduced from the activity index (13.9 days). This is readily visible in Fig. 4 where available simultaneous photometric points and radial velocities (here the residuals around the Keplerian model) are plotted as a function of the Julian date. Fourier transforms of the data also yield similar behaviours in the frequency space (Fig. 5). In Fig. 4, illustrative sine curves with fixed photometric period are plotted on top of the points. The phase shift between the two curves (1.53 rad) is close to $`\pi `$/2, exactly what is predicted for photometric and radial-velocity variations induced by activity-related spots, as shown on HD 166435 by Queloz-2001:a. Very similar results are obtained in the 4 different bands of the Strömgren photometry.

Another approach consists in comparing the residuals around the orbital solution to the BIS measurements, in the same way as for the actual radial velocities. Figure 7 (top) presents the CCF bisector inverse slope (BIS) measurements and radial-velocity residuals, phased with the rotational period derived from the photometric data. Although the two quantities do not correlate clearly (Fig. 7, bottom), some hints of coupled variations are emphasized in the top panels by the sine curves with fixed 13.97-d period fitted to the data. We are probably reaching here the limit of the method for the available spectral resolution and radial-velocity precision, especially if the BIS signature is much smaller than the radial-velocity jitter in the case of weak rotators, as suggested by Santos-2003:b.

The above considerations unambiguously show the link between stellar activity and the radial-velocity spurious noise observed around the orbital solution. Important progresses are expected in the domain with the higher quality spectra and radial velocities to be provided by HARPS (Pepe-2002:b).

## 6 Summary and concluding remarks

We have described here a new Hot Jupiter candidate orbiting the star HD 73256, detected with CORALIE as part of our large planet-search survey in the southern hemisphere (Udry-2000:a). The planet is on a quasi-circular orbit, very close to its parent star. The period is $`P`$ = 2.5486 days. The inferred minimum planetary mass is 1.85 MJup and the star-planet separation is only 0.037 AU.

A dedicated photometric search for a potential planetary transit has been undertaken as soon as the orbital parameters were known with suitable precision. Although unsuccessful, the photometric measurements allowed us to estimate a stellar rotation period of 13.97 days, much longer than the orbital period. This rules out activity as the source of the observed radial-velocity variation. A further confirmation is brought by CCF bisector measurements showing no correlation with the radial velocities. The high activity level of the star is however thought to be responsible for the somewhat large radial-velocity residuals observed around the best Keplerian solution. Comparable variation timescales for the photometric data and residuals support this idea.

Concerning activity-related noise, it is worth noticing that the planet orbits a fairly active late-type dwarf. This is also the case for HD 130322 (Udry-2000:a) and HD 192263444The existence of this planet was recently questioned by photometric measurements showing a periodicity compatible with the orbital period (Henry-2002). New simultaneous photometry and radial velocities show, however, that the two quantities are not correlated (Santos-2003:b), contrarily to what is expected in the case of activity (spots) origin for the radial-velocity variations. The planet orbiting HD 192263 is thus back in the list (Santos-2000:a; Santos-2003:b). In these examples the radial-velocity jitter induced by activity is small compared to the orbital radial-velocity semi-amplitude and thus does not prevent us from detecting the planet. This illustrates the result pointed out by Saar-98 and Santos-2000:b that activity-induced radial-velocity noise is becoming smaller when going from late F to K dwarfs, a trend mostly due to the typical lower rotation rate of the latters. K dwarfs thus remain suitable targets for planet-search programmes even if they show a significant activity level.

Finally, once again the combination of photometry, CCF bisector analysis and cross-correlation technique (Queloz-2001:a) has provided the mandatory and robust diagnostics for confidently ruling out activity as the source of the observed radial-velocity variation.

###### Acknowledgements.

We are grateful to the staff from the Geneva Observatory which is maintaining the 1.2-m Euler Swiss telescope and the CORALIE echelle spectrograph at La Silla. We thank the Geneva University and the Swiss NSF (FNRS) for their continuous support for this project. Mohamed Yacine Bouzid kindly observed HD 73256 on a few nights at SAT. The SAT group gratefully acknowledges the technical staff at Copenhagen University for its excellent support. The photometry was obtained as part of an extensive study of GK-type eclipsing binaries supported by the Danish Natural Science Research Council. L.M.F. acknowledges support from the project IUAP P5/36 financed by the Belgian State. Support from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal, to N.C.S., in the form of a scholarship is gratefully acknowledged. This research has made use of the Simbad database, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France