Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufm.p32a..05v&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #P32A-05
Physics
[5430] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Interiors, [5455] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Origin And Evolution, [5700] Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets
Scientific paper
With the exciting discoveries of three transiting small exoplanets to date, we have formally entered the era of super-Earths. To first characterize these bodies we need to know their composition and especially discern the rocky ones from the ocean/vapor planets. However, the problem is intrinsically very degenerate, and thus information on formation and atmospheric escape (especially for the close-in planets) is essential to better constrain their composition. I will present models of the internal structure and composition of exoplanets CoRoT-7b, GJ 1214b and Kepler-9d. With the new mass-radius measurements, CoRoT-7b is most likely the first rocky exoplanet discovered. Its density suggests a heavier composition than Earth’s (a greater Fe/Si ratio). Owing to its small period, the high irradiation keeps the day-facing side in a permanent magma ocean state, while its farther side is chilled. This planet is evaporating at a high rate (with a suggested value of ~10^11 g/s), so that its interior is being eroded continuously. GJ 1214b is a vapor planet with some H-He content (< 10%), thus better termed a mini-Neptune. This is a particularly exciting planet because it is amenable to atmospheric studies with transmission spectra. Kepler-9d is the smallest planet of a system of three that suffered migration. Its radius of ~1.4 Earth-radii, suggests a maximum mass of 9 Earth-masses if composed of pure-iron or ~3.5-5 Earth-masses for a more realistic composition that includes oxides. I will present the latest results on this system including atmospheric escape and possible origins for Kepler-9d.
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