The NCORES program: HARPS follow-up of TESS discoveries near the photoevaporation gap

The mass and density of a planet’s core tells us about the core ice-mass fraction, a direct connection to the formation process. In most cases the gaseous envelope hides this core, meaning we cannot determine its composition. In situations where the planet is exposed to intense radiation, that gaseous envelope may be lost, providing us with a unique opportunity. This poster shows current results for the NCORES program, a HARPS campaign to characterize TESS-discovered planets orbiting close in to their host stars where photoevaporation can play a dominant role. To date NCORES has led or contributed to the mass-determination of 26 TESS planets mostly smaller than 4R_earth, making a significant contribution to the Level 1 science goal. NCORES aims to produce a well-characterized sample of bright TESS planets to enable the study of close-in planets and cores on an individual and population level.