WASP-12b as a prolate, inflated and disrupting planet from tidal dissipation

Details WASP-12b as a prolate, inflated and disrupting planet from tidal dissipation WASP-12b as a prolate, inflated and disrupting planet from tidal dissipation

2010-02-24

arxiv.org/abs/1002.4608v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Accepted to Nature, 14 pages, 1 figure

Scientific paper

The class of exotic Jupiter-mass planets that orbit very close to their parent stars were not explicitly expected before their discovery. The recently found transiting planet WASP-12b has a mass Mp = 1.4(+/-0.1) Jupiter masses (MJ), a mean orbital distance of only 3.1 stellar radii (meaning it is subject to intense tidal forces), and a period of 1.1 days. Its radius 1.79(+/- 0.09) RJ is unexpectedly large and its orbital eccentricity 0.049(+/-0:015) is even more surprising as such close orbits are in general quickly circularized. Here we report an analysis of its properties, which reveals that the planet is losing mass to its host star at a rate ~ 10^-7 MJ yr^-1. The planets surface is distorted by the stars gravity and the light curve produced by its prolate shape will differ by about ten per cent from that of a spherical planet. We conclude that dissipation of the stars tidal perturbation in the planets convective envelope provides the energy source for its large volume. We predict up to 10mJy CO band-head (2.292 micron) emission from a tenuous disk around the host star, made up of tidally stripped planetary gas. It may also contain a detectable resonant super-Earth, as a hypothetical perturber that continually stirs up WASP-12b's eccentricity.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

WASP-12b as a prolate, inflated and disrupting planet from tidal dissipation 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 WASP-12b as a prolate, inflated and disrupting planet from tidal dissipation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and WASP-12b as a prolate, inflated and disrupting planet from tidal dissipation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-261090