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Hot super-Earths stripped by their host stars

Author

Listed:
  • M. S. Lundkvist

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Landessternwarte)

  • H. Kjeldsen

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • S. Albrecht

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • G. R. Davies

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • S. Basu

    (Yale University)

  • D. Huber

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA), School of Physics, University of Sydney)

  • A. B. Justesen

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • C. Karoff

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    Aarhus University)

  • V. Silva Aguirre

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • V. Van Eylen

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • C. Vang

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • T. Arentoft

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • T. Barclay

    (NASA Ames Research Center
    Bay Area Environmental Research Institute)

  • T. R. Bedding

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA), School of Physics, University of Sydney)

  • T. L. Campante

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • W. J. Chaplin

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • J. Christensen-Dalsgaard

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • Y. P. Elsworth

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • R. L. Gilliland

    (Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds, The Pennsylvania State University)

  • R. Handberg

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • S. Hekker

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)

  • S. D. Kawaler

    (Iowa State University)

  • M. N. Lund

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • T. S. Metcalfe

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    Space Science Institute)

  • A. Miglio

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • J. F. Rowe

    (NASA Ames Research Center
    SETI Institute)

  • D. Stello

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA), School of Physics, University of Sydney)

  • B. Tingley

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University)

  • T. R. White

    (Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), Aarhus University
    Institut für Astrophysik, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)

Abstract

Simulations predict that hot super-Earth sized exoplanets can have their envelopes stripped by photoevaporation, which would present itself as a lack of these exoplanets. However, this absence in the exoplanet population has escaped a firm detection. Here we demonstrate, using asteroseismology on a sample of exoplanets and exoplanet candidates observed during the Kepler mission that, while there is an abundance of super-Earth sized exoplanets with low incident fluxes, none are found with high incident fluxes. We do not find any exoplanets with radii between 2.2 and 3.8 Earth radii with incident flux above 650 times the incident flux on Earth. This gap in the population of exoplanets is explained by evaporation of volatile elements and thus supports the predictions. The confirmation of a hot-super-Earth desert caused by evaporation will add an important constraint on simulations of planetary systems, since they must be able to reproduce the dearth of close-in super-Earths.

Suggested Citation

  • M. S. Lundkvist & H. Kjeldsen & S. Albrecht & G. R. Davies & S. Basu & D. Huber & A. B. Justesen & C. Karoff & V. Silva Aguirre & V. Van Eylen & C. Vang & T. Arentoft & T. Barclay & T. R. Bedding & T., 2016. "Hot super-Earths stripped by their host stars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11201
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11201
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