TOI-270 as a unique testbed for exoplanet formation & evolution

The nearby TOI-270 system provides an unparalleled opportunity to observationally probe hypotheses for exoplanet formation and evolution. The system hosts one super-Earth and two sub-Neptunes near mean-motion resonances and transiting a bright (K-mag 8.25) M3V dwarf. Strangely, M-dwarf systems harbouring only super-Earths or only sub-Neptunes are ubiquitous. However, for still unknown reasons, systems with multiple planets spanning the radius valley are rare - and we know merely a handful of systems bright enough for precise mass measurements and atmospheric studies. To this end, TOI-270's planets are exceptionally favourable for detailed transit timing variation (TTV) and transmission spectroscopy observations. First, with the planets orbiting near low-order resonances (5:3 and 2:1), our extensive observing campaign with eight different observatories since 2018 yields clear TTV signals for planets c and d, with amplitudes of around 10 min and a super-period of circa 3 yr. Using dynamical models, we can thus significantly constrain their radii, mass ratios, and eccentricities. This adds to complementary radial velocity (RV) mass measurements from HARPS and ESPRESSO. Second, via HST and JWST transmission spectroscopy we can characterise and compare the atmospheres of two sub-Neptunes formed from the same protoplanetary nebula and test hypotheses like photoevaporation, core-powered mass-loss, and gas-poor formation. As one of the best-constrained small planet systems, TOI-270 can thus serve as a unique observational testbed for formation and evolution theories.