Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-12-03
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Invited review, IAU Symposium No. 276, The Astrophysics of Planetary Systems: Formation, Structure, and Dynamical Evolution
Scientific paper
In this short review, we summarize our present understanding (and non-understanding) of exoplanet formation, structure and evolution, in the light of the most recent discoveries. Recent observations of transiting massive brown dwarfs seem to remarkably confirm the predicted theoretical mass-radius relationship in this domain. This mass-radius relationship provides, in some cases, a powerful diagnostic to distinguish planets from brown dwarfs of same mass, as for instance for Hat-P-20b. If confirmed, this latter observation shows that planet formation takes place up to at least 8 Jupiter masses. Conversely, observations of brown dwarfs down to a few Jupiter masses in young, low-extinction clusters strongly suggest an overlapping mass domain between (massive) planets and (low-mass) brown dwarfs, i.e. no mass edge between these two distinct (in terms of formation mechanism) populations. At last, the large fraction of heavy material inferred for many of the transiting planets confirms the core-accretion scenario as been the dominant one for planet formation.
Baraffe Isabelle
Chabrier Gilles
Leconte Jérémy
No associations
LandOfFree
Understanding exoplanet formation, structure and evolution in 2010 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 Understanding exoplanet formation, structure and evolution in 2010, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Understanding exoplanet formation, structure and evolution in 2010 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-515423