Work

On the Tidal Inflation of Short‐Period Extrasolar Planets

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: We examine the consequences of tidal interaction between eccentric short-period extrasolar planets and their host stars and of secular perturbations between planets in a given system. If the planet is within 0.05 AU of the star, the dissipation of the stellar tidal disturbance within the planet provides a significant energy source, which causes the planet to inflate as it adjusts to a thermal equilibrium. We determine the planetary size as a function of the tidal dissipation rate with or without the presence of a core. Inflation intensifies the star-planet tidal interaction and accelerates the pace of the planet's spin synchronization and orbital circularization. We apply our results to three systems with short-period planets: HD 209458, Ups And, and Tau Boo.

Source: The Astrophysical Journal

DOI: 10.1086/318667

Authors: Peter Bodenheimer, D. N. C. Lin, R. A. Mardling

Institutions: University of California, Santa Cruz, University of California Observatories, Monash University

Language: English

Topic: Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center

Awards: Evolution of Stellar Disks, LEXEN: Habitable Planets and Satellites in the Outer Solar System