Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2006-12-01
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.Lett.377:L1-L4,2007
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters
Scientific paper
10.1111/j.1745-3933.2007.00291.x
In this letter we consider the evolution of a planetary system around a star inside a wide binary. We simulate numerically the evolution of the planetary orbits for both co-planar and highly-inclined systems. We find that the Kozai mechanism operates in the latter case. This produces a highly eccentric outer planet whose orbit crosses those of some of the inner planets. Strong planet-planet interactions then follow resulting in the ejection of one or more planets. We note that planetary systems resembling our solar system, formed around single stars in stellar clusters may exchange into binaries and thus will be vulnerable to planet stripping. This process will reduce the number of solar-system like planetary systems, and may produce at least some of the observed extra-solar planets.
Chambers John E.
Davies Melvyn B.
Malmberg Daniel
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