Systematic search for long-term transit duration changes in <i>Kepler</i> transiting planets

ABSTRACT Holczer, Mazeh, and collaborators (HM+16) used the Kepler 4-yr observations to derive a transit-timing catalog, identifying 260 objects of interest (KOI) with significant transit timing variations (TTV). For KOIs high enough S/Ns, HM+16 also derived duration depth their transits. In this work, we use measurements systematically study changes 561 identify 15 long-term linear change durations another 16 an intermediate significance. We show that observed trend is probably caused by precession orbital plane transiting planet, induced in most cases planet. The leading term rate depends on mass relative inclination perturber, period ratio between two orbits, but not planet itself. Interestingly, our findings indicate that, as sample, detected time derivatives get larger function planetary period, because short-period systems display small inclinations. results might planets reside relatively flattened systems, suggesting these experienced stronger dissipation either when formed or migrated short orbits. This should be possible clue for formation such systems.