No Arabic abstract
Planets close to their stars are thought to form farther out and migrate inward due to angular momentum exchange with gaseous protoplanetary disks. This process can produce systems of planets in co-orbital (Trojan or 1:1) resonance, in which two planets share the same orbit, usually separated by 60 degrees. Co-orbital systems are detectable among the planetary systems found by the Kepler mission either directly or by transit timing variations. However, no co-orbital systems have been found within the thousands of Kepler planets and candidates. Here we study the orbital evolution of co-orbital planets embedded in a protoplanetary disk using a grid-based hydrodynamics code. We show that pairs of similar-mass planets in co-orbital resonance are disrupted during large-scale orbital migration. Destabilization occurs when one or both planets is near the critical mass needed to open a gap in the gaseous disk. A confined gap is opened that spans the 60 degree azimuthal separation between planets. This alters the torques imparted by the disk on each planet -- pushing the leading planet outward and the trailing planet inward -- and disrupts the resonance. The mechanism applies to systems in which the two planets masses differ by a factor of two or less. In a simple flared disk model the critical mass for gap opening varies from a few Earth masses at the inner edge of the disk to 1 Saturn-mass at 5 AU. A pair of co-orbital planets with masses in this range that migrates will enter a region where the planets are at the gap-opening limit. At that point the resonance is disrupted. We therefore predict an absence of planets on co-orbital configurations with masses in the super-Earth to Saturn mass range with similar masses.
The aim of this talk is to present the most recent advances in establishing plausible planetary system architectures determined by the gravitational tidal interactions between the planets and the disc in which they are embedded during the early epoch of planetary system formation. We concentrate on a very well defined and intensively studied process of the disc-planet interaction leading to the planet migration. We focus on the dynamics of the systems in which low-mass planets are present. Particular attention is devoted to investigation of the role of resonant configurations. Our studies, apart from being complementary to the fast progress occurring just now in observing the whole variety of planetary systems and uncovering their structure and origin, can also constitute a valuable contribution in support of the missions planned to enhance the number of detected multiple systems.
In order to study the origin of the architectures of low mass planetary systems, we perform numerical surveys of the evolution of pairs of coplanar planets in the mass range $(1-4) rmn{M}_{oplus}.$ These evolve for up to $2times10^7 rmn{yr}$ under a range of orbital migration torques and circularization rates assumed to arise through interaction with a protoplanetary disc. Near the inner disc boundary, significant variations of viscosity, interaction with density waves or with the stellar magnetic field could occur and halt migration, but allow ircularization to continue. This was modelled by modifying the migration and circularization rates. Runs terminated without an extended period of circularization in the absence of migration torques gave rise to either a collision, or a system close to a resonance. These were mostly first order with a few $%$ terminating in second order resonances. Both planetary eccentricities were small $< 0.1$ and all resonant angles liberated. This type of survey produced only a limited range of period ratios and cannot reproduce Kepler observations. When circularization alone operates in the final stages, divergent migration occurs causing period ratios to increase. Depending on its strength the whole period ratio range between $1$ and $2$ can be obtained. A few systems close to second order commensurabilities also occur. In contrast to when arising through convergent migration, resonant trapping does not occur and resonant angles circulate. Thus the behaviour of the resonant angles may indicate the form of migration that led to near resonance.
With a mass in the Neptune regime and a radius of Jupiter, WASP-107b presents a challenge to planet formation theories. Meanwhile, the planets low surface gravity and the stars brightness also make it one of the most favorable targets for atmospheric characterization. Here, we present the results of an extensive 4-year Keck/HIRES radial-velocity (RV) follow-up program of the WASP-107 system and provide a detailed study of the physics governing the accretion of its gas envelope. We reveal that WASP-107bs mass is only 1.8 Neptune masses ($M_b = 30.5 pm 1.7$ $M_oplus$). The resulting extraordinarily low density suggests that WASP-107b has a H/He envelope mass fraction of $> 85$% unless it is substantially inflated. The corresponding core mass of $<4.6$ $M_oplus$ at 3$sigma$ is significantly lower than what is traditionally assumed to be necessary to trigger massive gas envelope accretion. We demonstrate that this large gas-to-core mass ratio most plausibly results from the onset of accretion at $gtrsim 1$ AU onto a low-opacity, dust-free atmosphere and subsequent migration to the present-day $a_b = 0.0566 pm 0.0017$ AU. Beyond WASP-107b, we also detect a second more massive planet ($M_c sin i = 0.36 pm 0.04$ $M_{J}$) on a wide eccentric orbit ($e_c = 0.28 pm 0.07$) which may have influenced the orbital migration and spin-orbit misalignment of WASP-107b. Overall, our new RV observations and envelope accretion modeling provide crucial insights into the intriguing nature of WASP-107b and the systems formation history. Looking ahead, WASP-107b will be a keystone planet to understand the physics of gas envelope accretion.
The Cassini spacecraft found a new and unique ring that shares the trajectory of Janus and Epimetheus, co-orbital satellites of Saturn. Performing image analysis, we found this to be a continuous ring. Its width is between 30% and 50% larger than previously announced. We also verified that the ring behaves like a firefly. It can only be seen from time to time, when Cassini, the ring and the Sun are arranged in a particular geometric configuration, in very high phase angles. Otherwise, it remains in the dark, not visible to Cassinis cameras. Through numerical simulations, we found a very short lifetime for the ring particles, less than a couple of decades. Consequently, the ring needs to be constantly replenished. Using a model of particles production due to micrometeorites impacts on the surfaces of Janus and Epimetheus, we reproduce the ring, explaining its existence and the firefly behavior.
We study the orbital evolution of a three planet system with masses in the super-Earth regime resulting from the action of tides on the planets induced by the central star which cause orbital circularization. We consider systems either in or near to a three body commensurability for which adjacent pairs of planets are in a first order commensurability. We develop a simple analytic solution, derived from a time averaged set of equations, that describes the expansion of the system away from strict commensurability as a function of time, once a state where relevant resonant angles undergo small amplitude librations has been attained. We perform numerical simulations that show the attainment of such resonant states focusing on the Kepler 60 system. The results of the simulations confirm many of the scalings predicted by the appropriate analytic solution. We go on to indicate how the results can be applied to put constraints on the amount of tidal dissipation that has occurred in the system. For example, if the system has been in a librating state since its formation, we find that its present period ratios imply an upper limit on the time average of 1/Q, with Q being the tidal dissipation parameter. On the other hand if a librating state has not been attained, a lower upper bound applies.