Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2005-08-13
Astrophys.J.631:L85-L88,2005
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
13 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJL
Scientific paper
10.1086/497094
The formation of gas giant planets is assumed to be preceded by the emergence of solid cores in the conventional sequential-accretion paradigm. This hypothesis implies that the presence of earth-like planets can be inferred from the detection of gas giants. A similar prediction cannot be made with the gravitational instability (hereafter GI) model which assumes that gas giants (hereafter giants) formed from the collapse of gas fragments analogous to their host stars. We propose an observational test for the determination of the dominant planet-formation channel. Based on the sequential-accretion (hereafter SA) model, we identify several potential avenues which may lead to the prolific formation of a population of close-in earth-mass ($M_\oplus$) planets (hereafter close-in earths) around stars with 1) short-period or 2) solitary eccentric giants and 3) systems which contain intermediate-period resonant giants. In contrast, these close-in earths are not expected to form in systems where giants originated rapidly through GI. As a specific example, we suggest that the SA processes led to the formation of the 7.5 $M_\oplus$ planet around GJ 876 and predict that it may have an atmosphere and envelope rich in O$_2$ and liquid water. Assessments of the ubiquity of these planets will lead to 1) the detection of the first habitable terrestrial planets, 2) the verification of the dominant mode of planet formation, 3) an estimate of the fraction of earth-harboring stars, and 4) modification of bio-marker signatures.
Aarseth Sverre J.
Lin Douglas N. C.
Nagasawa Michiyasu
Zhou Ji-Lin
No associations
LandOfFree
Origin and Ubiquity of Short-Period Earth-like Planets: Evidence for the Sequential-Accretion Theory of Planet Formation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Origin and Ubiquity of Short-Period Earth-like Planets: Evidence for the Sequential-Accretion Theory of Planet Formation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Origin and Ubiquity of Short-Period Earth-like Planets: Evidence for the Sequential-Accretion Theory of Planet Formation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-495293