Subaru HDS transmission spectroscopy of the transiting extrasolar planet HD 209458b

We have searched for absorption in several common atomic species due to the atmosphere or exosphere of the transiting extrasolar planet HD 209458b, using high precision optical spectra obtained with the Subaru High Dispersion Spectrograph (HDS). Previously we reported an Lipper limit on Ha absorption of 0.1% (3 sigma) within a 5.1 angstrom band. Using the same procedure, we now report upper limits on absorption due to the optical transitions of Na D, Li. H alpha, H beta, H gamma, Fe, and Ca. The 3 sigma upper limit for each transition is approximately 1% within a 0.3 angstrom band (the core of the line), and a few tenths of a per cent within a 2 angstrom band (the full line width). The wide-band results are close to the expected limit due to photon-counting (Poisson) statistics, although in the narrow-band case we have encountered unexplained systematic errors at a few times the Poisson level. These results are consistent with all previously reported detections and upper limits, but are significantly more sensitive.