Two Regimes of Interaction of a Hot Jupiter’s Escaping Atmosphere with the Stellar Wind and Generation of Energized Atomic Hydrogen Corona

Author(s)
I. F. Shaikhislamov, Maxim L. Khodachenko, Helmut Lammer, K. G Kislyakova, Luca Fossati, Colin Johnstone
Abstract

The interaction of escaping the upper atmosphere of a hydrogen-rich non-magnetized analog of HD 209458b with a stellar wind (SW) of its host G-type star at different orbital distances is simulated with a 2D axisymmetric multi-fluid hydrodynamic (HD) model. A realistic Sun-like spectrum of X-ray and ultraviolet radiation, which ionizes and heats the planetary atmosphere, together with hydrogen photochemistry, as well as stellar-planetary tidal interaction are taken into account to generate self-consistently an atmospheric HD outflow. Two different regimes of the planetary and SW interaction have been modeled. These are: (1) the “captured by the star” regime, when the tidal force and pressure gradient drive the planetary material beyond the Roche lobe toward the star, and (2) the “blown by the wind” regime, when sufficiently strong SW confines the escaping planetary atmosphere and channels it into the tail. The model simulates in detail the HD interaction between the planetary atoms, protons and the SW, as well as the production of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) around the planet due to charge exchange between planetary atoms and stellar protons. The revealed location and shape of the ENA cloud, either as a paraboloid shell between the ionopause and bowshock (for the “blown by the wind” regime), or a turbulent layer at the contact boundary between the planetary stream and SW (for the “captured by the star” regime) are of importance for the interpretation of Lyα absorption features in exoplanetary transit spectra and characterization of the plasma environments.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Russian Academy of Sciences, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW), Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology
Journal
The Astrophysical Journal
Volume
832
No. of pages
20
ISSN
0004-637X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/832/2/173
Publication date
12-2016
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103003 Astronomy, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Science
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/5a73fe52-264f-4198-9522-0aab5c47853a