scholarly journals Effects of the stellar wind on the Ly α transit of close-in planets

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (3) ◽  
pp. 3382-3393
Author(s):  
S Carolan ◽  
A A Vidotto ◽  
C Villarreal D’Angelo ◽  
G Hazra

ABSTRACT We use 3D hydrodynamics simulations followed by synthetic line profile calculations to examine the effect increasing the strength of the stellar wind has on observed Ly α transits of a hot Jupiter (HJ) and a warm Neptune (WN). We find that increasing the stellar wind mass-loss rate from 0 (no wind) to 100 times the solar mass-loss rate value causes reduced atmospheric escape in both planets (a reduction of 65 per cent and 40 per cent for the HJ and WN, respectively, compared to the ‘no wind’ case). For weaker stellar winds (lower ram pressure), the reduction in planetary escape rate is very small. However, as the stellar wind becomes stronger, the interaction happens deeper in the planetary atmosphere, and, once this interaction occurs below the sonic surface of the planetary outflow, further reduction in evaporation rates is seen. We classify these regimes in terms of the geometry of the planetary sonic surface. ‘Closed’ refers to scenarios where the sonic surface is undisturbed, while ‘open’ refers to those where the surface is disrupted. We find that the change in stellar wind strength affects the Ly α transit in a non-linear way (note that here we do not include charge-exchange processes). Although little change is seen in planetary escape rates (≃ 5.5 × 1011 g s−1) in the closed to partially open regimes, the Ly α absorption (sum of the blue [−300, −40 km s−1] and red [40, 300 km s−1] wings) changes from 21 to 6 per cent as the stellar wind mass-loss rate is increased in the HJ set of simulations. For the WN simulations, escape rates of ≃ 6.5 × 1010 g s−1 can cause transit absorptions that vary from 8.8 to 3.7 per cent, depending on the stellar wind strength. We conclude that the same atmospheric escape rate can produce a range of absorptions depending on the stellar wind and that neglecting this in the interpretation of Ly α transits can lead to underestimation of planetary escape rates.

2020 ◽  
Vol 498 (1) ◽  
pp. L53-L57
Author(s):  
S Carolan ◽  
A A Vidotto ◽  
P Plavchan ◽  
C Villarreal D’Angelo ◽  
G Hazra

ABSTRACT Here, we study the dichotomy of the escaping atmosphere of the newly discovered close-in exoplanet AU Microscopii (AU Mic) b. On one hand, the high extreme-ultraviolet stellar flux is expected to cause a strong atmospheric escape in AU Mic b. On the other hand, the wind of this young star is believed to be very strong, which could reduce or even inhibit the planet’s atmospheric escape. AU Mic is thought to have a wind mass-loss rate that is up to 1000 times larger than the solar wind mass-loss rate ($\dot{\mathrm{ M}}_\odot$). To investigate this dichotomy, we perform 3D hydrodynamics simulations of the stellar wind–planetary atmosphere interactions in the AU Mic system and predict the synthetic Ly α transits of AU Mic b. We systematically vary the stellar wind mass-loss rate from a ‘no wind’ scenario to up to a stellar wind with a mass-loss rate of $1000~\dot{\mathrm{ M}}_\odot$. We find that, as the stellar wind becomes stronger, the planetary evaporation rate decreases from 6.5 × 1010  g s−1 to half this value. With a stronger stellar wind, the atmosphere is forced to occupy a smaller volume, affecting transit signatures. Our predicted Ly α absorption drops from $\sim 20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in the case of ‘no wind’ to barely any Ly α absorption in the extreme stellar wind scenario. Future Ly α transits could therefore place constraints not only on the evaporation rate of AU Mic b, but also on the mass-loss rate of its host star.


1979 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 281-286
Author(s):  
Yoji Kondo ◽  
George E. McCluskey ◽  
Jürgen Rahe

The far-UV spectrum of the eclipsing binary UW CMa (O7f + O-B) had earlier been utilized to derive a mass-loss rate of about 10−6 to 10−5 solar mass per year. The mass flow seems to be basically in the form of a stellar wind emanating from the O7f primary component, with radiation pressure as the controlling factor. The main characteristics that make UW CMa a possible progenitor of a Wolf-Rayet system are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (3) ◽  
pp. 3438-3453
Author(s):  
D Ó Fionnagáin ◽  
A A Vidotto ◽  
P Petit ◽  
C Neiner ◽  
W Manchester IV ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We investigate the wind of λ And, a solar-mass star that has evolved off the main sequence becoming a subgiant. We present spectropolarimetric observations and use them to reconstruct the surface magnetic field of λ And. Although much older than our Sun, this star exhibits a stronger (reaching up to 83 G) large-scale magnetic field, which is dominated by the poloidal component. To investigate the wind of λ And, we use the derived magnetic map to simulate two stellar wind scenarios, namely a ‘polytropic wind’ (thermally driven) and an ‘Alfven-wave-driven wind’ with turbulent dissipation. From our 3D magnetohydrodynamics simulations, we calculate the wind thermal emission and compare it to previously published radio observations and more recent Very Large Array observations, which we present here. These observations show a basal sub-mJy quiescent flux level at ∼5 GHz and, at epochs, a much larger flux density (>37 mJy), likely due to radio flares. By comparing our model results with the radio observations of λ And, we can constrain its mass-loss rate $\dot{M}$. There are two possible conclusions. (1) Assuming the quiescent radio emission originates from the stellar wind, we conclude that λ And has $\dot{M} \simeq 3 \times 10^{-9}$ M⊙ yr −1, which agrees with the evolving mass-loss rate trend for evolved solar-mass stars. (2) Alternatively, if the quiescent emission does not originate from the wind, our models can only place an upper limit on mass-loss rates, indicating that $\dot{M} \lesssim 3 \times 10^{-9}$ M⊙ yr −1.


1981 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 265-270
Author(s):  
L.R. Yungelson ◽  
A.G. Massevitch ◽  
A.V. Tutukov

It is shown that mass loss by stellar wind with rates observed in O, B-stars cannot change qualitatively their evolution in the core hydrogen-burning stage. The effects, that are usually attributed to the mass loss, can be explained by other causes: e.g., duplicity or enlarged chemically homogeneous stellar cores.The significance of mass loss by stellar wind for the evolution of massive stars was studied extensively by numerous authors (see e.g. Chiosi et al. (1979) and references therein). However, the problem is unclear as yet. There does not exist any satisfactory theory of mass loss by stars. Therefore one is usually forced to assume that mass loss rate depends on some input parameters.


1993 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 483-483
Author(s):  
S.K. Górny

A grid of homogeneous models of evolution of hydrogen burning planetary nebulae nuclei, assuming different stellar winds and the zero points for the post-AGB evolution, have been constructed from original Schönberners tracks. Following a simplified line-driven wind theory the mass loss rate has been adopted to be


Author(s):  
E. S. Kalinicheva ◽  
◽  
V. I. Shematovich ◽  
Ya. N. Pavlyuchenkov ◽  
◽  
...  

In this work we present the results of the modeling of exoplanet pi Men c upper atmosphere, produced using the previously developed one-dimensional self-consistent aeronomic model. The model used takes into account the contribution of suprathermal particles, which significantly refines the heating function of the atmosphere. The hight profiles of temperature, velocity and density were obtained, the atmospheric mass-loss rate was calculated. The presence of two hight-scales in the structure of the atmosphere was found: the first corresponds to a relatively dense stationary atmosphere, the second to a more rarefied corona.


1988 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
P. Lundqvist ◽  
C. Fransson

AbstractThe time dependent ionization and temperature structure of the circumstellar medium around supernovae has been calculated, in order to interpret recent supernova radio observations. For a stellar wind origin of the circumstellar medium, we relate the time of radio turn-on to the progenitor mass loss rate. We also show that large column densities for the UV resonance lines are expected. The results are applied to SN 1979c, SN 1980k and SN 1987A.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (4) ◽  
pp. 4837-4848
Author(s):  
Svetozar A Zhekov

ABSTRACT We modelled the Chandra and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer X-ray spectra of the massive binary WR 140 in the framework of the standard colliding stellar wind (CSW) picture. Models with partial electron heating at the shock fronts are a better representation of the X-ray data than those with complete temperature equalization. Emission measure of the X-ray plasma in the CSW region exhibits a considerable decrease at orbital phases near periastron. This is equivalent to variable effective mass-loss rates over the binary orbit. At orbital phases near periastron, a considerable X-ray absorption in excess to that from the stellar winds in WR 140 is present. The standard CSW model provides line profiles that in general do not match well the observed line profiles of the strong line features in the X-ray spectrum of WR 140. The variable effective mass-loss rate could be understood qualitatively in CSW picture of clumpy stellar winds where clumps are efficiently dissolved in the CSW region near apastron but not at periastron. However, future development of CSW models with non-spherically symmetric stellar winds might be needed to get a better correspondence between theory and observations.


1993 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 85-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bianchi ◽  
G. De Francesco

We present IUE observations of some nuclei of Planetary Nebulae. From these data we derive the stellar photospheric parameters (Teff Lbol, log g), and the wind characteristics (velocity, mass loss rate). Teff, R∗, Lbol are derived from UV low resolution spectra, combining optical and radio data, from Bianchi (1988) or from new IUE data, with the same method (fit of the UV continuum with model atmospheres for high gravity stars, after correcting for reddening and for the contribution of continuum emission by the nebular gas). P Cygni profiles from IUE high resolution spectra are fitted with the SEI method and V∞ is derived. The non-LTE ionisation in the wind and the mass loss rate are computed as in Bianchi et al. (1986). Details are given in a forthcoming paper. The results for a first group of objects are given in the Table below.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document