scholarly journals Erosion of an exoplanetary atmosphere caused by stellar winds

2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A52 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Rodríguez-Mozos ◽  
A. Moya
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Extreme Environment ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Habitable Zone ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Zone Versus ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Interaction Regions ◽  
The Impact

Aims. We present a formalism for a first-order estimation of the magnetosphere radius of exoplanets orbiting stars in the range from 0.08 to 1.3 M⊙. With this radius, we estimate the atmospheric surface that is not protected from stellar winds. We have analyzed this unprotected surface for the most extreme environment for exoplanets: GKM-type and very low-mass stars at the two limits of the habitable zone. The estimated unprotected surface makes it possible to define a likelihood for an exoplanet to retain its atmosphere. This function can be incorporated into the new habitability index SEPHI. Methods. Using different formulations in the literature in addition to stellar and exoplanet physical characteristics, we estimated the stellar magnetic induction, the main characteristics of the stellar wind, and the different star-planet interaction regions (sub- and super-Alfvénic, sub- and supersonic). With this information, we can estimate the radius of the exoplanet magnetopause and thus the exoplanet unprotected surface. Results. We have conducted a study of the auroral aperture angles for Earth-like exoplanets orbiting the habitable zone of its star, and found different behaviors depending on whether the star is in rotational saturated or unsaturated regimes, with angles of aperture of the auroral ring above or below 36°, respectively, and with different slopes for the linear relation between the auroral aperture angle at the inner edge of the habitable zone versus the difference between auroral aperture angles at the two boundaries of the habitable zone. When the planet is tidally locked, the unprotected angle increases dramatically to values higher than 40° with a low likelihood of keeping its atmosphere. When the impact of stellar wind is produced in the sub-Alfvénic regime, the likelihood of keeping the atmosphere is almost zero for exoplanets orbiting very close to their star, regardless of whether they are saturated or not.

scholarly journals On the effects of stellar winds on exoplanetary magnetospheres

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S302) ◽  
pp. 251-254
Author(s):  
V. See ◽  
M. Jardine ◽  
A. A. Vidotto ◽  
P. Petit ◽  
S. C. Marsden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Parameter Space ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Planetary Atmosphere ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Habitable Zone ◽  
Wind Model ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe habitable zone is the range of orbital distances from a host star in which an exoplanet would have a surface temperature suitable for maintaining liquid water. This makes the orbital distance of exoplanets an important variable when searching for extra-solar Earth analogues. However, the orbital distance is not the only important factor determining whether an exoplanet is potentially suitable for life. The ability of an exoplanet to retain an atmosphere is also vital since it helps regulate surface temperatures. One mechanism by which a planetary atmosphere can be lost is erosion due to a strong stellar wind from the host star. The presence of a magnetosphere can help to shield a planetary atmosphere from this process. Using a simple stellar wind model, we present the impact that stellar winds might have on magnetospheric sizes of exoplanets. This is done with the aim of further constraining the parameter space in which we look for extra-solar Earth analogues.

The impact of magnetism on tidal dynamics in the convective envelope of low-mass stars

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S354) ◽  
pp. 195-199
Author(s):  
A. Astoul ◽  
S. Mathis ◽  
C. Baruteau ◽  
F. Gallet ◽  
A. Strugarek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Orbital Evolution ◽  
Magnetic Contribution ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Convective Envelope ◽  
Tidal Waves ◽  
Tidal Interactions ◽  
Rotational Evolution ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The Impact

AbstractFor the shortest period exoplanets, star-planet tidal interactions are likely to have played a major role in the ultimate orbital evolution of the planets and on the spin evolution of the host stars. Although low-mass stars are magnetically active objects, the question of how the star’s magnetic field impacts the excitation, propagation and dissipation of tidal waves remains open. We have derived the magnetic contribution to the tidal interaction and estimated its amplitude throughout the structural and rotational evolution of low-mass stars (from K to F-type). We find that the star’s magnetic field has little influence on the excitation of tidal waves in nearly circular and coplanar Hot-Jupiter systems, but that it has a major impact on the way waves are dissipated.

scholarly journals Rotational evolution of solar-type protostars during the star-disk interaction phase

2019 ◽  
Vol 632 ◽  
pp. A6 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Gallet ◽  
C. Zanni ◽  
L. Amard
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Stellar Rotation ◽  
Solar Mass ◽  
Stellar Envelope ◽  
Spin Evolution ◽  
Rotational Evolution ◽  
Solar Type ◽  
The Impact

Context. The early pre-main sequence phase during which solar-mass stars are still likely surrounded by an accretion disk represents a puzzling stage of their rotational evolution. While solar-mass stars are accreting and contracting, they do not seem to spin up substantially. Aims. It is usually assumed that the magnetospheric star-disk interaction tends to maintain the stellar rotation period constant (“disk-locking”), but this hypothesis has never been thoroughly verified. Our aim is to investigate the impact of the star-disk interaction mechanism on the stellar spin evolution during the accreting pre-main sequence phases. Methods. We devised a model for the torques acting on the stellar envelope based on studies of stellar winds, and we developed a new prescription for the star-disk coupling founded on numerical simulations of star-disk interaction and magnetospheric ejections. We then used this torque model to follow the long-term evolution of the stellar rotation. Results. Strong dipolar magnetic field components up to a few kG are required to extract enough angular momentum so as to keep the surface rotation rate of solar-type stars approximately constant for a few Myr. Furthermore an efficient enough spin-down torque can be provided by either one of the following: a stellar wind with a mass outflow rate corresponding to ≈10% of the accretion rate, or a lighter stellar wind combined with a disk that is truncated around the corotation radius entering a propeller regime. Conclusions. Magnetospheric ejections and accretion powered stellar winds play an important role in the spin evolution of solar-type stars. However, kG dipolar magnetic fields are neither uncommon or ubiquitous. Besides, it is unclear how massive stellar winds can be powered while numerical models of the propeller regime display a strong variability that has no observational confirmation. Better observational statistics and more realistic models could contribute to help lessen our calculations’ requirements.

scholarly journals The rotation of very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S243) ◽  
pp. 241-248
Author(s):  
Jochen Eislöffel ◽  
Alexander Scholz
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Brown Dwarfs ◽  
Magnetic Interaction ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Solar Mass ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Angular Momentum Loss ◽  
Rotational Evolution ◽  
Solar Type ◽  
Low Mass

AbstractThe evolution of angular momentum is a key to our understanding of star formation and stellar evolution. The rotational evolution of solar-mass stars is mostly controlled by magnetic interaction with the circumstellar disc and angular momentum loss through stellar winds. Major differences in the internal structure of very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs – they are believed to be fully convective throughout their lives, and thus should not operate a solar-type dynamo – may lead to major differences in the rotation and activity of these objects. Here, we report on observational studies to understand the rotational evolution of the very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs.

scholarly journals The effects of stellar winds and magnetic fields on exoplanets

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S302) ◽  
pp. 228-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Vidotto
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Interplanetary Medium ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Stellar Winds ◽  
Stellar Rotation ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Exoplanetary Systems ◽  
Cool Stars ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Host Stars

AbstractThe great majority of exoplanets discovered so far are orbiting cool, low-mass stars whose properties are relatively similar to the Sun. However, the stellar magnetism of these stars can be significantly different from the solar one, both in topology and intensity. In addition, due to the present-day technology used in exoplanetary searches, most of the currently known exoplanets are found orbiting at extremely close distances to their host stars (< 0.1 au). The dramatic differences in stellar magnetism and orbital radius can make the interplanetary medium of exoplanetary systems remarkably distinct from that of the Solar System. To constrain interactions between exoplanets and their host-star's magnetised winds and to characterise the interplanetary medium that surrounds exoplanets, more realistic stellar wind models, which account for factors such as stellar rotation and the complex stellar magnetic field configurations of cool stars, must be employed. Here, I briefly review the latest progress made in data-driven modelling of magnetised stellar winds. I also show that the interaction of the stellar winds with exoplanets can lead to several observable signatures, some of which that are absent in our own Solar System.

scholarly journals Does magnetic field impact tidal dynamics inside the convective zone of low-mass stars along their evolution?

2019 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. A111 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Astoul ◽  
S. Mathis ◽  
C. Baruteau ◽  
F. Gallet ◽  
A. Strugarek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Convective Envelope ◽  
Tidal Waves ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Tidal Flows ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The Impact

Context. The dissipation of the kinetic energy of wave-like tidal flows within the convective envelope of low-mass stars is one of the key physical mechanisms that shapes the orbital and rotational dynamics of short-period exoplanetary systems. Although low-mass stars are magnetically active objects, the question of how the star’s magnetic field impacts large-scale tidal flows and the excitation, propagation and dissipation of tidal waves still remains open. Aims. Our goal is to investigate the impact of stellar magnetism on the forcing of tidal waves, and their propagation and dissipation in the convective envelope of low-mass stars as they evolve. Methods. We have estimated the amplitude of the magnetic contribution to the forcing and dissipation of tidally induced magneto-inertial waves throughout the structural and rotational evolution of low-mass stars (from M to F-type). For this purpose, we have used detailed grids of rotating stellar models computed with the stellar evolution code STAREVOL. The amplitude of dynamo-generated magnetic fields is estimated via physical scaling laws at the base and the top of the convective envelope. Results. We find that the large-scale magnetic field of the star has little influence on the excitation of tidal waves in the case of nearly-circular orbits and coplanar hot-Jupiter planetary systems, but that it has a major impact on the way waves are dissipated. Our results therefore indicate that a full magneto-hydrodynamical treatment of the propagation and dissipation of tidal waves is needed to properly assess the impact of star-planet tidal interactions throughout the evolutionary history of low-mass stars hosting short-period massive planets.

scholarly journals Asteroseismology of low-mass stars: the balance between partial ionization and Coulomb interactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 507 (4) ◽  
pp. 5747-5757
Author(s):  
Ana Brito ◽  
Ilídio Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Acoustic Oscillation ◽  
Coulomb Interactions ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Stellar Oscillations ◽  
Diagnostic Potential ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Coulomb Effects ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT All cool stars with outer convective zones have the potential to exhibit stochastically excited stellar oscillations. In this work, we explore the outer layers of stars less massive than the Sun. In particular, we have computed a set of stellar models ranging from 0.4 to 0.9 M⊙ with the aim at determining the impact on stellar oscillations of two physical processes occurring in the envelopes of these stars. Namely, the partial ionization of chemical elements and the electrostatic interactions between particles in the outer layers. We find that alongside with partial ionization, Coulomb effects also impact the acoustic oscillation spectrum. We confirm the well-known result that as the mass of a star decreases, the electrostatic interactions between particles become relevant. We found that their impact on stellar oscillations increases with decreasing mass, and for the stars with the lowest masses (M ≲ 0.6 M⊙), it is shown that Coulomb effects dominate over partial ionization processes producing a strong scatter on the acoustic modes. The influence of Coulomb interactions on the sound-speed gradient profile produces a strong oscillatory behaviour with diagnostic potential for the future.

scholarly journals Correlation between mass segregation and structural concentration in relaxed stellar clusters

2019 ◽  
Vol 485 (4) ◽  
pp. 5752-5760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruggero de Vita ◽  
Michele Trenti ◽  
Morgan MacLeod
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Stellar Clusters ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
Best Fitting ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Mass Segregation ◽  
First Time

Abstract The level of mass segregation in the core of globular clusters has been previously proposed as a potential indicator of the dynamical constituents of the system, such as presence of a significant population of stellar-mass black holes (BHs), or even a central intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). However, its measurement is limited to clusters with high-quality Hubble Space Telescope data. Thanks to a set of state-of-the-art direct N-body simulations with up to 200k particles inclusive of stellar evolution, primordial binaries, and varying BH/neutron stars, we highlight for the first time the existence of a clear and tight linear relation between the degree of mass segregation and the cluster structural concentration index. The latter is defined as the ratio of the radii containing 5 per cent and 50 per cent of the integrated light (R5/R50), making it robustly measurable without the need to individually resolve low-mass stars. Our simulations indicate that given R5/R50, the mass segregation Δm (defined as the difference in main-sequence median mass between centre and half-light radius) is expressed as Δm/M⊙ = −1.166R5/R50 + 0.3246, with a root-mean-square error of 0.0148. In addition, we can explain its physical origin and the values of the fitted parameters through basic analytical modelling. Such correlation is remarkably robust against a variety of initial conditions (including presence of primordial binaries and IMBHs) and cluster ages, with a slight dependence in best-fitting parameters on the prescriptions used to measure the quantities involved. Therefore, this study highlights the potential to develop a new observational tool to gain insight on the dynamical status of globular clusters and on its dark remnants.

scholarly journals The high-energy radiation environment of the habitable-zone super-Earth LHS 1140b

2019 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. A144 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Spinelli ◽  
F. Borsa ◽  
G. Ghirlanda ◽  
G. Ghisellini ◽  
S. Campana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Energy Distribution ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Radiation Environment ◽  
Habitable Zone ◽  
Low Mass Stars ◽  
High Energy Radiation ◽  
Energy Radiation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Near Ultraviolet ◽  
Low Mass

Context. In the last few years many exoplanets in the habitable zone (HZ) of M-dwarfs have been discovered, but the X-ray/UV activity of cool stars is very different from that of our Sun. The high-energy radiation environment influences the habitability, plays a crucial role for abiogenesis, and impacts the chemistry and evolution of planetary atmospheres. LHS 1140b is one of the most interesting exoplanets discovered. It is a super-Earth-size planet orbiting in the HZ of LHS 1140, an M4.5 dwarf at ~15 parsecs. Aims. In this work, we present the results of the analysis of a Swift X-ray/UV observing campaign. We characterize for the first time the X-ray/UV radiation environment of LHS 1140b. Methods. We measure the variability of the near ultraviolet (NUV) flux and estimate the far ultraviolet (FUV) flux with a correlation between FUV1344−1786Å and NUV1771−2831Å flux obtained using the sample of low-mass stars in the GALEX archive. We highlight the presence of a dominating X-ray source close to the J2000 coordinates of LHS 1140, characterize its spectrum, and derive an X-ray flux upper limit for LHS 1140. We find that this contaminant source could have influenced the previously estimated spectral energy distribution. Results. No significant variation of the NUV1771−2831Å flux of LHS 1140 is found over 3 months, and we do not observe any flare during the 38 ks on the target. LHS 1140 is in the 25th percentile of least variable M4-M5 dwarfs of the GALEX sample. Analyzing the UV flux experienced by the HZ planet LHS 1140b, we find that outside the atmosphere it receives a NUV1771−2831Å flux <2% with respect to that of the present-day Earth, while the FUV1344−1786Å/NUV1771−2831Å ratio is ~100–200 times higher. This represents a lower limit to the true FUV/NUV ratio since the FUV1344−1786Å band does not include Lyman-alpha, which dominates the FUV output of low-mass stars. This is a warning for future searches for biomarkers, which must take into account this high ratio. Conclusions. The relatively low level and stability of UV flux experienced by LHS 1140b should be favorable for its present-day habitability.

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