Planets and X-rays: a radiation diet

Details Planets and X-rays: a radiation diet Planets and X-rays: a radiation diet

2011-09-18

arxiv.org/abs/1109.3913v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Proceedings of the 16th Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and the Sun (2010, PASP conference series, in press). Prelimi

Scientific paper

According to theory, high energy emission from the coronae of cool stars can severely erode the atmosphere of orbiting planets. To test the long term effects of the erosion we study a large sample of planet-hosting stars observed in X-rays. The results reveal that massive planets (Mp sin i > 1.5 Mj) may survive only if exposed to low accumulated coronal radiation. The planet HD 209458 b might have lost more than 1 Mj already, and other cases, like tau Boo b, could be losing mass at a rate of 3.4 Earth masses per Gyr. The strongest erosive effects would take place during the first stages of the stellar life, when the faster rotation generates more energetic coronal radiation. The planets with higher density seem to resist better the radiation effects, as foreseen by models. Current models need to be improved to explain the observed distribution of planetary masses with the coronal radiation received.

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