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arXiv 1106.2807astro-ph.EP
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低密度外海王星的形成和结构

Formation and Structure of Low Density Exo-Neptunes

Leslie A. Rogers, Peter Bodenheimer, Jack J. Lissauer, Sara Seager

摘要:

开普勒已经发现了数百颗海王星大小(2-6 R_地球)的行星候选者,距离它们的恒星不到0.5 AU。这些行星中绝大多数的性质尚不清楚,因为它们的质量尚未被测量。利用行星形成、演化和结构的理论模型,我们探索了低密度外海王星的最小合理质量范围。我们关注的是T_eq>= 500 K的高辐照行星。我们考虑两个独立的形成途径,低质量的行星与大量的轻气体的气氛:核心成核吸积和放气的氢从解离冰。结果表明,在T_eq= 500 K时,质量小到地球几倍的海王星大小的行星,可以通过核吸积和随后的向内迁移形成。我们还推导出一个限制低密度的质量半径关系的岩石行星与除气氢信封,但没有表面水。岩石行星与脱气氢信封通常有计算半径远低于3 R_地球。对于这两个行星的H/He信封从核心核吸积和行星脱气氢信封,我们采用行星内部模型来映射行星质量的范围-信封质量-平衡温度参数空间是一致的海王星大小的行星半径。大气质量损失介导了这个参数空间的哪个角落被实际的行星占据,并最终决定了在指定的过境半径处的最小合理质量。我们发现,在T_eq=500- 1000 K的温度范围内,开普勒提出的2-6 R_Earth行星候选者可能具有小于~4 M_Earth的质量。虽然我们的定量结果取决于几个假设,但我们的定性发现,即温暖的海王星大小的行星的质量可以大大小于我们太阳系内行星的质量和半径。

英文摘要:

Kepler has found hundreds of Neptune-size (2-6 R_Earth) planet candidates within 0.5 AU of their stars. The nature of the vast majority of these planets is not known because their masses have not been measured. Using theoretical models of planet formation, evolution and structure, we explore the range of minimum plausible masses for low-density exo-Neptunes. We focus on highly irradiated planets with T_eq>=500K. We consider two separate formation pathways for low-mass planets with voluminous atmospheres of light gases: core nucleated accretion and outgassing of hydrogen from dissociated ices. We show that Neptune-size planets at T_eq=500K with masses as small as a few times that of Earth can plausibly be formed core nucleated accretion coupled with subsequent inward migration. We also derive a limiting low-density mass-radius relation for rocky planets with outgassed hydrogen envelopes but no surface water. Rocky planets with outgassed hydrogen envelopes typically have computed radii well below 3 R_Earth. For both planets with H/He envelopes from core nucleated accretion and planets with outgassed hydrogen envelopes, we employ planet interior models to map the range of planet mass--envelope mass--equilibrium temperature parameter space that is consistent with Neptune-size planet radii. Atmospheric mass loss mediates which corners of this parameter space are populated by actual planets and ultimately governs the minimum plausible mass at a specified transit radius. We find that Kepler's 2-6 R_Earth planet candidates at T_eq=500--1000K could potentially have masses less than ~4 M_Earth. Although our quantitative results depend on several assumptions, our qualitative finding that warm Neptune-size planets can have masses substantially smaller than those given by interpolating the masses and radii of planets within our Solar System is robust.

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