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DOE OSTI2013

GAP OPENING BY EXTREMELY LOW-MASS PLANETS IN A VISCOUS DISK

By numerically integrating the compressible Navier-Stokes equations in two dimensions, we calculate the criterion for gap formation by a very low mass (q {approx} 10{sup -4}) protoplanet on a fixed orbit in a thin viscous disk. In contrast with some previously proposed gap-opening criteria, we find that a planet can open a gap even if the Hill radius is smaller than the disk scale height. Moreover, in the low-viscosity limit, we find no minimum mass necessary to open a gap for a planet held on a fixed orbit. In particular, a Neptune-mass planet will open a gap in a minimum mass solar nebula with suitably low viscosity ({alpha} {approx}< 10{sup -4}). We find that the mass threshold scales as the square root of viscosity in the low mass regime. This is because the gap width for critical planet masses in this regime is a fixed multiple of the scale height, not of the Hill radius of the planet.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2014

Triple microlens OGLE-2008-BLG-092L: binary stellar system with a circumprimary uranus-type planet

We present the gravitational microlensing discovery of a 4 M {sub Uranus} planet that orbits a 0.7 M {sub ☉} star at ≈18 AU. This is the first known analog of Uranus. Similar planets, i.e., cold ice giants, are inaccessible to either radial velocity or transit methods because of the long orbital periods, while low reflected light prevents direct imaging. We discuss how similar planets may contaminate the sample of the very short microlensing events that are interpreted as free-floating planets with an estimated rate of 1.8 per main-sequence star. Moreover, the host star has a nearby stellar (or brown dwarf) companion. The projected separation of the planet is only about three times smaller than that of the companion star, suggesting significant dynamical interactions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Discovery and characterization of two Neptune-mass planets orbiting HD 212729 with TESS

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of two exoplanets orbiting around HD 212729 (TOI 1052, TIC 317060587), a Teff = 6146 K star with V = 9.51 observed by TESS in Sectors 1 and 13. One exoplanet, TOI-1052b, is Neptune-mass and transits the star, and an additional planet TOI-1052c is observed in radial velocities but not seen to transit. We confirm the planetary nature of TOI-1052b using precise radial velocity observations from HARPS and determined its parameters in a joint RV and photometry analysis. TOI-1052b has a radius of $2.87^{+0.29}_{-0.24}$ R⊕, a mass of 16.9 ± 1.7 M⊕, and an orbital period of 9.14 d. TOI-1052c does not show any transits in the TESS data, and has a minimum mass of $34.3^{+4.1}_{-3.7}$ M⊕ and an orbital period of 35.8 d, placing it just interior to the 4:1 mean-motion resonance. Both planets are best fit by relatively high but only marginally significant eccentricities of $0.18^{+0.09}_{-0.07}$ for planet b and $0.24^{+0.09}_{-0.08}$ for planet c. We perform a dynamical analysis and internal structure model of the planets as well as deriving stellar parameters and chemical abundances. The mean density of TOI-1052b is $3.9^{+1.7}_{-1.3}$ g cm−3 consistent with an internal structure similar to Neptune. A nearby star is observed in Gaia DR3 with the same distance and proper motion as TOI-1052, at a sky projected separation of $\scriptstyle \sim$1500 au, making this a potential wide binary star system.

Armstrong, David J. (ORCID:0000000250804117)↗

DOE OSTI2024

Stellar wind impact on early atmospheres around unmagnetized Earth-like planets

ABSTRACT Stellar rotation at early ages plays a crucial role in the survival of primordial atmospheres around Earth-mass exoplanets. Earth-like planets orbiting fast-rotating stars may undergo complete photoevaporation within the first few hundred Myr driven by the enhanced stellar XUV [X-rays and extreme ultraviolet (EUV)] radiation, while planets orbiting slow-rotating stars are expected to experience difficulty in losing their primordial envelopes. Besides the action of stellar radiation, stellar winds induce additional erosion on these primordial atmospheres, altering their morphology, extent, and causing supplementary atmospheric losses. In this paper, we study the impact of activity-dependent stellar winds on primordial atmospheres to evaluate the extent to which the action of these winds can be significant in the whole planetary evolution at early evolutionary stages. We performed 3D magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) simulations of the interaction of photoevaporating atmospheres around unmagnetized Earth-mass planets in the time span between 50 and 500 Myr, analysing the joint evolution of stellar winds and atmospheres for both fast- and slow-rotating stars. Our results reveal substantial changes in the evolution of primordial atmospheres when influenced by fast-rotating stars, with a significant reduction in extent at early ages. In contrast, atmospheres embedded in the stellar winds from slow-rotating stars remain largely unaltered. The interaction of the magnetized stellar winds with the ionized upper atmospheres of these planets allows us to evaluate the formation and evolution of different MHD structures, such as double bow shocks and induced magnetospheres. This work will shed light on the first evolutionary stages of Earth-like exoplanets, which are of crucial relevance in terms of planet habitability.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

DOE OSTI2017

Final Report: "Recreating Planet Cores in the Laboratory"

The grant supported a combination of experimental and theoretical research characterizing materials at high pressures (above 0.1-1 TPa = 1-10 million atmospheres) and modest temperatures (below 20,000-100,000 K). This is the “warm dense” (sub-nuclear) regime relevant to understanding the properties of planets, and also to characterizing the chemical bonding forces between atoms. As such, the experiments provide important validation and extensions of theoretical simulations based on quantum mechanics, and offer new insights into the nature and evolution of planets, including the thousands of recently discovered extra-solar planets. In particular, our experiments have documented that: 1) helium can separate from hydrogen at conditions existing inside Jupiter and Saturn, providing much of these planets’ internal energy hence observed luminosities; 2) water ice is likely present in a superionic state with mobile protons inside Uranus and Neptune; 3) rock (oxides) can become metallic at conditions inside “super-Earths” and other large planets, thereby contributing to their magnetic fields; and 4) the “statistical atom” regime that provides the theoretical foundation for characterizing materials at planetary and astrophysical conditions is now accessible to experimental testing.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2016

HAT-P-65b AND HAT-P-66b: TWO TRANSITING INFLATED HOT JUPITERS AND OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE FOR THE REINFLATION OF CLOSE-IN GIANT PLANETS

We present the discovery of the transiting exoplanets HAT-P-65b and HAT-P-66b, with orbital periods of 2.6055 and 2.9721 days, masses of 0.527±0.083 M{sub J} and 0.783±0.057 M{sub J}, and inflated radii of 1.89±0.13 R{sub J} and 1.59{sub −0.10}{sup +0.16} R{sub J}, respectively. They orbit moderately bright (V=13.145±0.029 and V=12.993±0.052) stars of mass 1.212±0.050 M{sub ⊙} and 1.255{sub −0.054}{sup +0.107} M{sub ⊙}. The stars are at the main-sequence turnoff. While it is well known that the radii of close-in giant planets are correlated with their equilibrium temperatures, whether or not the radii of planets increase in time as their hosts evolve and become more luminous is an open question. Looking at the broader sample of well-characterized close-in transiting giant planets, we find that there is a statistically significant correlation between planetary radii and the fractional ages of their host stars, with a false-alarm probability of only 0.0041%. We find that the correlation between the radii of planets and the fractional ages of their hosts is fully explained by the known correlation between planetary radii and their present-day equilibrium temperatures; however, if the zero-age main-sequence equilibrium temperature is used in place of the present-day equilibrium temperature, then a correlation with age must also be included to explain the planetary radii. This suggests that, after contracting during the pre-main-sequence, close-in giant planets are reinflated over time due to the increasing level of irradiation received from their host stars. Prior theoretical work indicates that such a dynamic response to irradiation requires a significant fraction of the incident energy to be deposited deep within the planetary interiors.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Deep Imaging Search for Planets Forming in the TW Hya Protoplanetary Disk with the Keck/NIRC2 Vortex Coronagraph

Distinct gap features in the nearest protoplanetary disk, TW Hya (distance of 59.5 ± 0.9 pc), may be signposts of ongoing planet formation. We performed long-exposure thermal infrared coronagraphic imaging observations to search for accreting planets, especially within dust gaps previously detected in scattered light and submillimeter-wave thermal emission. Three nights of observations with the Keck/NIRC2 vortex coronagraph in L' (3.4–4.1 μm) did not reveal any statistically significant point sources. We thereby set strict upper limits on the masses of non-accreting planets. In the four most prominent disk gaps at 24, 41, 47, and 88 au, we obtain upper mass limits of 1.6–2.3, 1.1–1.6, 1.1–1.5, and 1.0–1.2 Jupiter masses (M {sub J}), assuming an age range of 7–10 Myr for TW Hya. These limits correspond to the contrast at 95% completeness (true positive fraction of 0.95) with a 1% chance of a false positive within 1" of the star. We also approximate an upper limit on the product of the planet mass and planetary accretion rate of M{sub p} M-dot ≲10{sup -8} M{sub J}{sup 2} yr{sup -1} implying that any putative ~0.1 M {sub J} planet, which could be responsible for opening the 24 au gap, is presently accreting at rates insufficient to build up a Jupiter mass within TW Hya’s pre-main-sequence lifetime.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2018

Validation and Initial Characterization of the Long-period Planet Kepler-1654 b

Fewer than 20 transiting Kepler planets have periods longer than one year. Our early search of the Kepler light curves revealed one such system, Kepler-1654b (originally KIC 8410697b), which shows exactly two transit events and whose second transit occurred only five days before the failure of the second of two reaction wheels brought the primary Kepler mission to an end. A number of authors have also examined light curves from the Kepler mission searching for long-period planets and identified this candidate. Starting in 2014 September, we began an observational program of imaging, reconnaissance spectroscopy, and precision radial velocity (RV) measurements that confirm with a high degree of confidence that Kepler-1654b is a bona fide transiting planet orbiting a mature G5V star (T {sub eff} = 5580 K, [Fe/H] = −0.08) with a semimajor axis of 2.03 au, a period of 1047.84 days, and a radius of 0.82 ± 0.02 R {sub Jup}. RV measurements using Keck’s HIRES spectrometer obtained over 2.5 years set a limit to the planet’s mass of <0.5 (3σ) M {sub Jup}. The bulk density of the planet is similar to that of Saturn or possibly lower. We assess the suitability of temperate gas giants like Kepler-1654b for transit spectroscopy with the James Webb Space Telescope, as their relatively cold equilibrium temperatures (T {sub pl} ∼ 200 K) make them interesting from the standpoint of exoplanet atmospheric physics. Unfortunately, these low temperatures also make the atmospheric scale heights small and thus transmission spectroscopy challenging. Finally, the long time between transits can make scheduling JWST observations difficult—as is the case with Kepler-1654b.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2021

A Decade of Radial-velocity Monitoring of Vega and New Limits on the Presence of Planets

We present an analysis of 1524 spectra of Vega spanning 10 yr, in which we search for periodic radial-velocity variations. A signal with a periodicity of 0.676 day and a semi-amplitude of ∼10 m s{sup −1} is consistent with the rotation period measured over much shorter time spans by previous spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric studies, confirming the presence of surface features on this A0 star. The activity signal appears to evolve on long timescales, which may indicate the presence of failed fossil magnetic fields on Vega. TESS data reveal Vega’s photometric rotational modulation for the first time, with a total amplitude of only 10 ppm. A comparison of the spectroscopic and photometric amplitudes suggests that the surface features may be dominated by bright plages rather than dark spots. For the shortest orbital periods, transit and radial-velocity injection recovery tests exclude the presence of transiting planets larger than 2 R {sub ⊕} and most non-transiting giant planets. At long periods, we combine our radial velocities with direct imaging from the literature to produce detection limits for Vegan planets and brown dwarfs out to distances of 15 au. Finally, we detect a candidate radial-velocity signal with a period of 2.43 days and a semi-amplitude of 6 m s{sup −1}. If caused by an orbiting companion, its minimum mass would be ∼20 M {sub ⊕}; because of Vega’s pole-on orientation, this would correspond to a Jovian planet if the orbit is aligned with the stellar spin. We discuss the prospects for confirmation of this candidate planet.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2021

The Impact of Classical and General Relativistic Obliquity Precessions on the Habitability of Circumstellar Neutron Stars’ Planets

Recently, it has been shown that rocky planets orbiting neutron stars can be habitable under plausible circumstances. If a distant, point-like source of visible light, such as a Sun-like main-sequence star or the gravitationally-lensed accretion disk of a supermassive black hole is present, possible temporal variations Δε{sub p}(t) of the planet’s axial tilt ε {sub p} to the ecliptic plane should be included in the overall habitability budget since the obliquity determines the insolation at a given latitude on a body’ s surface. I point out that, for rather generic initial spin–orbit initial configurations, general relativistic and classical spin variations induced by the post-Newtonian de Sitter and Lense–Thirring components of the field of the host neutron star and by its pull to the planetary oblateness J{sub 2}{sup p} may induce huge and very fast variations of ε {sub p} that would likely have an impact on the habitability of such worlds. In particular, for a planet’s distance of, say, 0.005 au from a 1.4 M {sub ⊙} neutron star corresponding to an orbital period P {sub b} = 0.109 day, obliquity shifts Δε {sub p} as large as ε{sub p}{sup max}−ε{sub p}{sup min}≃50{sup ∘}--100{sup ∘} over characteristic timescales as short as 10 days (J{sub 2}{sup p}) to 3 Myr (Lense–Thirring) may occur for arbitrary orientations of the orbital and spin angular momenta L, S {sub ns}, S {sub p} of the planet-neutron star system. In view of this feature of their spins, I dub such hypothetical planets as “nethotrons.”.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

HD 143811 AB b: A Directly Imaged Planet Orbiting a Spectroscopic Binary in Sco-Cen

We present confirmation of HD 143811 AB b, a substellar companion to spectroscopic binary HD 143811 AB through direct imaging with the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) and Keck NIRC2. HD 143811 AB was observed as a part of the GPI Exoplanet Survey in 2016 and 2019 and is a member of the Sco-Cen star formation region. The exoplanet is detected ∼430 mas from the host star by GPI. With two GPI epochs and one from Keck/NIRC2 in 2022, we confirm through common proper motion analysis that the object is bound to its host star. We derive an orbit with a semimajor axis of $64^{+32}_{-14}$ au and eccentricity $0.23^{+0.24}_{-0.16}$. Spectral analysis of the GPI H-band spectrum and NIRC2 L′ photometry provides additional proof that this object is a substellar companion. We compare the spectrum of HD 143811 AB b to PHOENIX stellar models and Exo-Radioactive-Convective Equilibrium Model (REM) exoplanet atmosphere models and find that Exo-REM models provide the best fits to the data. From the Exo-REM models, we derive an effective temperature of $1042^{+178}_{-132}$ K for the planet and translate the derived luminosity of the planet to a mass of 5.6 ± 1.1 M Jup assuming hot-start evolutionary models. HD 143811 AB b is the first directly imaged planet around a binary that is not on an ultrawide orbit. Future characterization of this object will shed light on the formation of planets around binary star systems.

Astronomy and AstroPhysics↗

NASA NTRS1972

Outer planet entry probe system study. Volume 2: Supporting technical studies

The environment, science investigations, and general mission analysis considerations are given first. These data are followed by discussions of the studies pertaining to the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Except for Neptune, each planet discussion is divided into two parts: (1) parametric activities and (2) probe definition for that planet, or the application of a given probe for that planet. The Neptune discussion is limited to parametrics in the area of science and mission analysis. Each of the probe system definitions consists of system and subsystem details including telecommunications, data handling, power pyrotechnics, attitude control, structures, propulsion, thermal control, and probe to spacecraft integration. The first configuration is discussed in detail and the subsequent configuration discussions are limited to the differences. Finally, the hardware availability to support a probe system and commonality of science, missions, and subsystems for use at the various planets are considered.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1973

Imaging of the outer planets and satellites.

Imaging is the most widely applicable single means of exploring the outer planets and their satellites and also complements other planet-oriented instruments. Photography of Jupiter from terrestrial telescopes has revealed features which were neither predictable or predicted. Close-up imaging from fly-bys and orbiters affords the opportunity for discovery of atmospheric phenomena on the outer planets forever beyond the reach of terrestrial laboratories and intuition. On the other hand, a large number of specific applications of close-up imaging to study the giant planets are suggested by experience in photography from Earth and Mars orbit, and by ground-based telescopic studies of Jupiter and Saturn. The satellites of the outer planets actually constitute three distinct classes: lunar-sized objects, asteroidal-sized objects, and particulate rings. Imaging promises to be the primary observational tool for each category with results that could impact scientific thinking in the late 70's and 80's as significantly as has close-up photography of Mars and the Moon in the last 10 yr.

Murray, B. C.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Alternate multiple-outer-planet missions using a Saturn-Jupiter flyby sequence

A study has been made of a method for providing more frequent launch opportunities for multiple-planet Grand Tour type missions to the outer solar system. A Saturn-Jupiter flyby sequence was used in the analysis to initiate the mission instead of the normal Jupiter-Saturn sequence. The Saturn-first approach is shown to yield several new launch opportunities following the 1980 cutoff date for Jupiter-first missions. Results are given for various two-planet, three-planet, and four-planet Jupiter-first and Saturn-first missions. A unique five-planet Saturn-first mission and a Saturn-Jupiter flyby which returns to earth are also discussed. Mission performance is evaluated for each flyby technique by comparing Saturn-first and Jupiter-first missions with respect to launch energy requirements, available launch windows, planetary encounter conditions, and total mission times.

Young, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1977

The dynamics and helium distribution in hydrogen-helium fluid planets

The simple case of a homogeneous planet without first-order phase transitions is considered and an investigation is conducted concerning a pure hydrogen planet in which a first-order phase transition takes place from fluid molecular hydrogen to fluid metallic hydrogen. Attention is also given to convection in the presence of a compositional gradient, the effects of helium insolubility in a cooling hydrogen-helium planet, a hydrogen-helium planet in its early evolution, and the case in which influence of phase transition occurs much later in the evolution of the planet.

Stevenson, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Gravitational N-body problem on the accretion process of terrestrial planets

Numerical integration of the gravitational N-body problem has been carried out for a variety of protoplanetary clusters in the range N = 100 to 200. Particles are assumed to coagulate at collisions irrespective of relative velocity and mass ratio of the particles. It is shown graphically how the dispersed N-bodies accumulate to a single planet through mutual collisions. The velocity distribution and size distribution of bodies are also investigated as functions of time in the accretion process. Accretion rates of planets are found to be dependent strongly on the initial number density distribution, the initial size distribution, and the initial velocity distribution of bodies. Formation of satellites of about 10% in the planet mass is common to most cases in the present study. A substantial mass of bodies also escapes from the cluster. Many satellites and escapers formed during the accretion process of planets may be source materials of heavy bombardment in the early history of planets.

Matsui, T.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Subsolidus convective cooling histories of terrestrial planets

The subsolidus convective cooling histories of terrestrial planets evolving from hot initial states are investigated quantitatively. A simple analytic model simulating average heat flux from a vigorously convecting mantle and incorporating a mantle viscosity proportional to mantle temperature and a lithosphere which thickens as the planet cools is employed. Heat flux from the convecting mantle is calculated on the basis of a power law relation between Nusselt number and Rayleigh number. The temperature distribution in the lithosphere is assumed to be linear throughout the cooling history of the planet. Cooling histories have been determined for the earth, Mars, Mercury and the moon and the mantle temperature decreases, mantle viscosity increases and decreases of heat flux to the surface and to the base of the lithosphere and of Nusselt and Rayleigh numbers are illustrated for each planet. It is found that primordial heat can contribute substantially to the present surface heat flux of a planet.

Schubert, G.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Solar flux incident on an orbiting surface after reflection from a planet

Algorithms describing the solar radiation impinging on an infinitesimal surface after reflection from a gray and diffuse planet are derived. The following conditions apply: only radiation from the sunny half of the planet is taken into account; the radiation must fall on the top of the orbiting surface, and radiation must come from that part of the planet that can be seen from the orbiting body. A simple approximate formula is presented which displays excellent accuracy for all significant situations, with an error which is always less than 5% of the maximum possible reflected flux. Attention is also given to solar albedo flux on a surface directly facing the planet, the influence of solar position on albedo flux, and to solar albedo flux as a function of the surface-planet tilt angle.

Modest, M. F.↗