Tidal Driven Mass Loss on Water Planets

Details Tidal Driven Mass Loss on Water Planets Tidal Driven Mass Loss on Water Planets

Oct 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.2712l&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #27.12; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.1062

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Current planet formation theory predicts that large numbers of planets form beyond the snow line and then migrate inwards to extremely short orbits. Some of these planets are likely to be Earth and Super Earth mass with large amounts of volatile ices. This could create a class of close in Earth and Super mass "water planets". We investigate the effects of tidal heating from circularization on such planets. The combination of low tidal Q, low vaporization temperature, and low mean molecular weight make water planets uniquely vulnerable to severe mass loss from tidal heating. We find that if these planets ever experience significant eccentricity, the heat from their rapid circularization will cause significant mass loss. This could significantly affect the survivability of water planets and the low end of the mass-period distribution.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Tidal Driven Mass Loss on Water Planets 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 Tidal Driven Mass Loss on Water Planets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tidal Driven Mass Loss on Water Planets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1122419