Effect of stellar flares and coronal mass ejections on the atmospheric escape from hot Jupiters

Author(s)
Gopal Hazra, Aline A. Vidotto, S. Carolan, Carolina Villarreal D'Angelo, Ward Manchester
Abstract

Spectral observations in the Ly-α line have shown that atmospheric escape is variable and for the exoplanet HD189733b, the atmospheric evaporation goes from undetected to enhanced evaporation in a 1.5 years interval. To understand the temporal variation in the atmospheric escape, we investigate the effect of flares, winds, and CMEs on the atmosphere of hot Jupiter HD189733b using 3D self-consistent radiation hydrodynamic simulations. We consider four cases: first, the quiescent phase including stellar wind; secondly, a flare; thirdly, a CME; and fourthly, a flare followed by a CME. We find that the flare alone increases the atmospheric escape rate by only 25%, while the CME leads to a factor of 4 increments, in comparison to the quiescent case. We also find that the flare alone cannot explain the observed high blue-shifted velocities seen in the Ly-α. The CME, however, leads to an increase in the velocity of escaping atmospheres, enhancing the blue-shifted transit depth.

Organisation(s)
Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s)
Leiden University, Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental, University of Michigan, Trinity College London
Volume
17
Pages
148-154
No. of pages
7
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921322004963
Publication date
08-2023
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/a1dbb7f5-dc15-4f8f-8cd1-a783fe27ad0a