Testing exoplanet evaporation with multitransiting systems
File(s)1912.01609 (1).pdf (1.13 MB)
Accepted version
OA Location
Author(s)
Owen, James E
Estrada, Beatriz Campos
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The photoevaporation model is one of the leading explanations for the evolution of small, close-in planets and the origin of the radius-valley. However, without planet mass measurements, it is challenging to test the photoevaporation scenario. Even if masses are available for individual planets, the host star’s unknown EUV/X-ray history makes it difficult to assess the role of photoevaporation. We show that systems with multiple transiting planets are the best in which to rigorously test the photoevaporation model. By scaling one planet to another in a multitransiting system, the host star’s uncertain EUV/X-ray history can be negated. By focusing on systems that contain planets that straddle the radius-valley, one can estimate the minimum masses of planets above the radius-valley (and thus are assumed to have retained a voluminous hydrogen/helium envelope). This minimum mass is estimated by assuming that the planet below the radius-valley entirely lost its initial hydrogen/helium envelope, then calculating how massive any planet above the valley needs to be to retain its envelope. We apply this method to 104 planets above the radius gap in 73 systems for which precise enough radii measurements are available. We find excellent agreement with the photoevaporation model. Only two planets (Kepler-100c and 142c) appear to be inconsistent, suggesting they had a different formation history or followed a different evolutionary pathway to the bulk of the population. Our method can be used to identify TESS systems that warrant radial-velocity follow-up to further test the photoevaporation model.
Date Issued
2020-02-01
Date Acceptance
2019-12-03
Citation
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2020, 491 (4), pp.5287-5297
ISSN
0035-8711
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
5287
End Page
5297
Journal / Book Title
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume
491
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society
This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model). This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version James E Owen, Beatriz Campos Estrada, Testing exoplanet evaporation with multitransiting systems, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 491, Issue 4, February 2020, Pages 5287–5297 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz3435
This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model). This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version James E Owen, Beatriz Campos Estrada, Testing exoplanet evaporation with multitransiting systems, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 491, Issue 4, February 2020, Pages 5287–5297 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz3435
Sponsor
The Royal Society
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000512310600052&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
UF150412
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
planets and satellites: atmospheres
planets and satellites: interiors
planets and satellites: physical evolution
planet
star interactions
POWERED MASS-LOSS
IN SUPER-EARTHS
RADIUS DISTRIBUTION
ATMOSPHERIC ESCAPE
PLANET FORMATION
X-RAY
VALLEY
NEPTUNES
HELIUM
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-12-06