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


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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.

About the authors

A. S. Arakcheev

Institute of Astronomy

Author for correspondence.
Email: arakcheev@inasan.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Pyatnitskaya 48, Moscow, 119017

A. G. Zhilkin

Institute of Astronomy

Email: arakcheev@inasan.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Pyatnitskaya 48, Moscow, 119017

P. V. Kaigorodov

Institute of Astronomy

Email: arakcheev@inasan.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Pyatnitskaya 48, Moscow, 119017

D. V. Bisikalo

Institute of Astronomy

Email: arakcheev@inasan.ru
Russian Federation, ul. Pyatnitskaya 48, Moscow, 119017

A. G. Kosovichev

Department of Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Email: arakcheev@inasan.ru
United States, Newark, New Jersey, 07102

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