Work

Probing exoplanetary magnetism via atomic alignment effect

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT The intrinsic MFs of exoplanets affect the structure of their atmospheres and plasma spheres and, therefore, the observational manifestations of transit absorptions. This work proposes a new method for constraining the presence or absence of relatively weak MFs. The method is based on the quantum effect of atomic alignment of the lower energy level resulting in changing the absorption probabilities of individual transitions of multiplets from the equilibrium 2J + 1 value. It appears to be sensitive to fields above ∼0.001 G. We applied this method to some available transit observations of exoplanets and demonstrate that we indeed have the possibility to constrain the intrinsic MF of some exoplanets right now. However, more precise and repetitive measurements, which might be available in near future, are needed for definite conclusions.

Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staf1038

Authors: M Rumenskikh, A V Taichenachev, I F Shaikhislamov, V I Yudin, E D Savintseva

Institutions: Institute of Laser Physics, Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation, Institute of Astronomy, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk State Technical University

Language: English

Topic: Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,046

Funders: Russell Sage Foundation, Russian Science Foundation