Reduction of mass loss by the hot Jupiter WASP-12b due to its magnetic field

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2017

Abstract

The influence of the dipolar magnetic field of a “hot Jupiter” with the parameters of the object WASP-12b on the mass-loss rate from its atmosphere is investigated. The results of three-dimensional gas-dynamical and magnetohydrodynamical computations show that the presence of a magnetic moment with a strength of ~0.1 the magnetic moment of Jupiter leads to appreciable variations of the matter flow structure. For example, in the case of the exoplanet WASP-12b with its specified set of atmospheric parameters, the stream from the vicinity of the Lagrange point L1 is not stopped by the dynamical pressure of the stellar wind, and the envelope remains open. Including the effect of the magnetic field leads to a variation in this picture—the atmosphere becomes quasi-closed, with a characteristic size of order 14 planetary radii, which, in turn, substantially decreases the mass-loss rate by the exoplanet atmosphere (by~70%). This reduction of the mass-loss rate due to the influence of the magnetic fieldmakes it possible for exoplanets to form closed and quasi-closed envelopes in the presence of more strongly overflowing Roche lobes than is possible without a magnetic field.

Identifier

85035140654 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Astronomy Reports

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063772917110014

ISSN

10637729

First Page

932

Last Page

941

Issue

11

Volume

61

Fund Ref

Russian Science Foundation

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