Extrasolar planets and the rotation and axisymmetric mass-loss of evolved stars

Abstract

I examine the implications of the recently found extrasolar planets on the planet-induced axisymmetrical mass loss model for the formation of elliptical planetary nebulae (PNs). This model, which was developed in several earlier papers by the author and a few collaborators, attributes low departure from spherical mass loss of upper asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars to envelope rotation which results from deposition of planet's orbital angular momentum. It was predicted that about 50 percent of all sun-like stars have Jupiter-like planets around them. In light of the new finding that only 5 percent of sun-like stars do have such planets I revise this prediction. I now predict that indeed about 50 percent of PNs progenitors do have close planets around them, but the planets can have much lower masses, as low as 0.01 times Jupiter's mass. To support this claim I follow the angular momentum evolution of single stars as they evolve to the post-AGB phase. The prediction that on average several such planets orbit each star, as in the solar system, still holds.