Ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-121b transits

In this context, we present the analysis of new optical spectroscopy for the transiting ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-121b. We first refine the orbital properties of WASP-121b, which is on a nearly polar (obliquity Psi^North^=88.1+/-0.25{deg} or Psi^South^=91.11+/-0.20{deg}) orbit, and exclude a high differential rotation for its fast-rotating (P<1.13-days), highly inclined (i*^North_=8.1^+3.0^_-2.6_{deg} or i*_South_=171.9^+2.5^_-3.4_{deg}) star.

We then present a new method that exploits the reloaded Rossiter-McLaughlin technique to separate the contribution of the planetary atmosphere and of the spectrum of the stellar surface along the transit chord. Its application to HARPS transit spectroscopy of WASP-121b reveals the absorption signature from metals, likely atomic iron, in the planet atmospheric limb. The width of the signal (14.3+/-1.2km/s) can be explained by the rotation of the tidally locked planet.