Magnetic Field Evolution of Hot Exoplanets

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Kilmetis, Konstantinos, Vidotto, Aline A., Allan, Andrew, Kubyshkina, Daria
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
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author Kilmetis, Konstantinos
Vidotto, Aline A.
Allan, Andrew
Kubyshkina, Daria
author_facet Kilmetis, Konstantinos
Vidotto, Aline A.
Allan, Andrew
Kubyshkina, Daria
contents Numerical simulations have shown that the strength of planetary magnetic fields depends on the convective energy flux emerging from planetary interiors. Here we model the interior structure of gas giant planets using \texttt{MESA}, to determine the convective energy flux that can drive the generation of magnetic field. This flux is then incorporated in the Christensen et al. dynamo formalism to estimate the maximum dipolar magnetic field $B^\mathrm{(max)}_\mathrm{dip}$ of our simulated planets. First, we explore how the surface field of intensely irradiated hot Jupiters ($\sim 300 M_\oplus$) and hot Neptunes ($\sim 20 M_\oplus$) evolve as they age. Assuming an orbital separation of 0.1 au, for the hot Jupiters, we find that $B^\mathrm{(max)}_\mathrm{dip}$ evolves from 240 G at 500 Myr to 120 G at 5~Gyr. For hot Neptunes, the magnetic field evolves from 11 G at young ages and dies out at $\gtrsim$ 2 Gyr. Furthermore, we also investigate the effects of atmospheric mass fraction, atmospheric evaporation, orbital separations $α$ and additional planetary masses on the derived $B^\mathrm{(max)}_\mathrm{dip}$. We found that $B^\mathrm{(max)}_\mathrm{dip}$ increases with $α$ for very close-in planets and plateaus out after that. Higher atmospheric mass fractions lead in general to stronger surface fields, because they allow for more extensive dynamo regions and stronger convection.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_00674
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Magnetic Field Evolution of Hot Exoplanets
Kilmetis, Konstantinos
Vidotto, Aline A.
Allan, Andrew
Kubyshkina, Daria
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Numerical simulations have shown that the strength of planetary magnetic fields depends on the convective energy flux emerging from planetary interiors. Here we model the interior structure of gas giant planets using \texttt{MESA}, to determine the convective energy flux that can drive the generation of magnetic field. This flux is then incorporated in the Christensen et al. dynamo formalism to estimate the maximum dipolar magnetic field $B^\mathrm{(max)}_\mathrm{dip}$ of our simulated planets. First, we explore how the surface field of intensely irradiated hot Jupiters ($\sim 300 M_\oplus$) and hot Neptunes ($\sim 20 M_\oplus$) evolve as they age. Assuming an orbital separation of 0.1 au, for the hot Jupiters, we find that $B^\mathrm{(max)}_\mathrm{dip}$ evolves from 240 G at 500 Myr to 120 G at 5~Gyr. For hot Neptunes, the magnetic field evolves from 11 G at young ages and dies out at $\gtrsim$ 2 Gyr. Furthermore, we also investigate the effects of atmospheric mass fraction, atmospheric evaporation, orbital separations $α$ and additional planetary masses on the derived $B^\mathrm{(max)}_\mathrm{dip}$. We found that $B^\mathrm{(max)}_\mathrm{dip}$ increases with $α$ for very close-in planets and plateaus out after that. Higher atmospheric mass fractions lead in general to stronger surface fields, because they allow for more extensive dynamo regions and stronger convection.
title Magnetic Field Evolution of Hot Exoplanets
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.00674