Multiple Planet Systems Research Articles

Planet–planet scattering in systems of multiple planets of unequal mass

ABSTRACT A large sample of planet–planet scattering events for three planet systems with different orbital separations and masses is analysed with a multiple regression model. The dependence of the time for the onset of instability on the masses of the planets and on their initial orbital separations is modelled with a quadratic function. The same analysis is applied to the timespan of the chaotic evolution dominated by mutual close encounters. The configurations with the less massive planet on an outside orbit are stable over longer time-scales. The same configuration leads to shorter chaotic evolution times before the ejection of one planet. In about 70 per cent of the cases, the lighter planet is the one escaping from the system. If a different separation is assumed between the inner and outer planet pairs, then the dominant effect on the instability time is due to the pair with the smaller separation, as a first approximation.

First comparative exoplanetology within a transiting multi-planet system: Comparing the atmospheres of V1298 Tau b and c

The V1298 Tau system is a multi-planet system that provides the opportunity to perform comparative exoplanetology between planets orbiting the same star. Because of its young age (20-30 Myr), this system also provides the opportunity to compare the planet's early evolutionary properties, right after their formation. We present the first atmospheric comparison between two transiting exoplanets within the same multiple planet system: V1298 Tau b and V1298 Tau c. We observed one primary transit for each planet with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), using Grism 141 (G141) of Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). We fit the spectroscopic light curves using state-of-the-art techniques to derive the transmission spectrum for planet c and adopted the transmission spectrum of planet b obtained with the same observing configuration and data analysis methods from previous studies. We measured the mass of planet b and c ($8_ $ M$_ oplus $; respectively) from the transmission spectrum and found the two planets to have masses in the Neptune or sub-Neptune regime. Using atmospheric retrievals, we measured and compared the atmospheric metallicities of planet b and c (logZ/Z$_ $, logZ/Z$_ $, respectively), and found them to be consistent with the solar or sub-solar, which is low (at least one order of magnitude) compared to known mature Neptune and sub-Neptune planets. This discrepancy could be explained by ongoing early evolutionary mechanisms, which are expected to enrich the atmospheres of such young planets as they mature. Alternatively, the observed spectrum of planet c can be explained by atmospheric hazes, which is in contrast to planet b, where efficient haze formation can be ruled out. Higher haze formation efficiency in planet c could be due to differences in atmospheric composition, temperature and/or higher UV flux compared to planet b. In addition, planet c is likely to experience a higher fraction of mass loss compared to planet b, given its proximity to the host star.

Variations in the Radius Distribution of Single- and Compact Multiple-transiting Planets

Previous work has established the enhanced occurrence of compact systems of multiple small exoplanets around metal-poor stars. Understanding the origin of this effect in the planet formation process is a topic of ongoing research. Here we consider the radii of planets residing in systems of multiple transiting planets, compared to those residing in single-transiting systems, with a particular focus on late-type host stars. We investigate whether the two radius distributions are consistent with being drawn from the same underlying planetary population. We construct a planetary sample of 290 planets around late K and M dwarfs containing 149 planets from single-transiting planetary systems and 141 planets from multi-transiting compact multiple planetary systems (54 compact multiples). We performed a two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Anderson–Darling k-sampling test on the radius distributions of our two samples. We find statistical evidence (p < 0.0026) that planets in compact multiple systems are larger, on average, than their single-transiting counterparts for planets with R p < 6 R ⊕. We determine that the offset cannot be explained by detection bias. We investigate whether this effect could be explained via more efficient outgassing of a secondary atmosphere in compact multiple systems due to the stress and strain forces of interplanetary tides on planetary interiors. We find that this effect is insufficient to explain our observations without significant enrichment in H2O compared to Earth-like bulk composition.

The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Revisiting the GJ 581 multi-planetary system with new Doppler measurements from CARMENES, HARPS, and HIRES

GJ\,581 is a nearby M dwarf known to host a packed multiple planet system composed of two super-Earths and a Neptune-mass planet. We present new orbital analyses of the GJ\,581 system, utilizing recent radial velocity (RV) data obtained from the CARMENES spectrograph combined with newly reprocessed archival data from the HARPS and HIRES spectrographs. Our aim was to analyze the post-discovery spectroscopic data of GJ\,581, which were obtained with CARMENES. In addition, we used publicly available HIRES and HARPS spectroscopic data to seek evidence of the known and disputed exoplanets in this system. We aimed to investigate the stellar activity of GJ\,581 and update the planetary system's orbital parameters using state-of-the-art numerical models and techniques. We performed a periodogram analysis of the available precise CARMENES, HIRES, and HARPS RVs and of stellar activity indicators. We conducted detailed orbital analyses by testing various orbital configurations consistent with the RV data. We studied the posterior probability distribution of the parameters fit to the data and we explored the long-term stability and overall orbital dynamics of the GJ\,581 system. We refined the orbital parameters of the GJ\,581 system using the most precise and complete set of Doppler data available. Consistent with the existing literature, our analysis confirms that the system is unequivocally composed of only three planets detectable in the present data, dismissing the putative planet GJ\,581\,d as an artifact of stellar activity. Our N-body fit reveals that the system's inclination is $i = $\,deg, which implies that the planets could be up to 30&lt;!PCT!&gt; more massive than their previously reported minimum masses. Furthermore, we report that the GJ\,581 system exhibits long-term stability, as indicated by the posterior probability distribution, characterized by secular dynamical interactions without the involvement of mean motion resonances.

Kepler-discovered Multiple-planet Systems near Period Ratios Suggestive of Mean-motion Resonances Are Young

Before the launch of the Kepler Space Telescope, models of low-mass planet formation predicted that convergent type I migration would often produce systems of low-mass planets in low-order mean-motion resonances. Instead, Kepler discovered that systems of small planets frequently have period ratios larger than those associated with mean-motion resonances and rarely have period ratios smaller than those associated with mean-motion resonances. Both short-timescale processes related to the formation or early evolution of planetary systems and long-timescale secular processes have been proposed as explanations for these observations. Using a thin disk stellar population’s Galactic velocity dispersion as a relative age proxy, we find that Kepler-discovered multiple-planet systems with at least one planet pair near a period ratio suggestive of a second-order mean-motion resonance have a colder Galactic velocity dispersion and are therefore younger than both single-transiting and multiple-planet systems that lack planet pairs consistent with mean-motion resonances. We argue that a nontidal secular process with a characteristic timescale no less than a few hundred Myr is responsible for moving systems of low-mass planets away from second-order mean-motion resonances. Among systems with at least one planet pair near a period ratio suggestive of a first-order mean-motion resonance, only the population of systems likely affected by tidal dissipation inside their innermost planets has a small Galactic velocity dispersion and is therefore young. We predict that period ratios suggestive of mean-motion resonances are more common in young systems with 10 Myr ≲ τ ≲ 100 Myr and become less common as planetary systems age.

Tidal Dissipation Regimes among the Short-period Exoplanets

The efficiency of tidal dissipation provides a zeroth-order link to a planet’s physical properties. For super-Earth and sub-Neptune planets in the range R ⊕ ≲ R p ≲ 4R ⊕, particularly efficient dissipation (i.e., low tidal quality factors) may signify terrestrial-like planets capable of maintaining rigid crustal features. Here, we explore global constraints on planetary tidal quality factors using a population of planets in multiple-planet systems whose orbital and physical properties indicate susceptibility to capture into secular spin–orbit resonances. Planets participating in secular spin–orbit resonance can maintain large axial tilts and significantly enhanced heating from obliquity tides. When obliquity tides are sufficiently strong, planets in low-order mean-motion resonances can experience resonant repulsion (period ratio increase). The observed distribution of period ratios among transiting planet pairs may thus depend nontrivially on the underlying planetary structures. We model the action of resonant repulsion and demonstrate that the observed distribution of period ratios near the 2:1 and 3:2 commensurabilities implies Q values spanning from Q ≈ 101–107 and peaking at Q ≈ 106. This range includes the expected range in which super-Earth and sub-Neptune planets dissipate (Q ≈ 103–104). This work serves as a proof of concept for a method of assessing the presence of two dissipation regimes, and we estimate the number of additional multitransiting planetary systems needed to place any bimodality in the distribution on a strong statistical footing.

Enhanced Size Uniformity for Near-resonant Planets

Super-Earths within the same close-in, compact planetary system tend to exhibit a striking degree of uniformity in their radius, mass, and orbital spacing, and this “peas-in-a-pod” phenomenon itself serves to provide one of the strongest constrains on planet formation at large. While it has been recently demonstrated from independent samples that such planetary uniformity occurs for both configurations near and distant from mean motion resonance, the question thus remains if the strength of this uniformity itself differs between near-resonant and nonresonant configurations such that the two modes may be astrophysically distinct in their evolution. We thus provide in this work a novel comparative size uniformity analysis for 48 near-resonant and 251 nonresonant multiplanet systems from the California Kepler Survey catalog, evaluating uniformity both across systems and between planetary pairs within the same system. We find that while multiplanet configurations exhibit strong peas-in-a-pod size uniformity regardless of their proximity to resonance, near-resonant configurations display enhanced intra-system size uniformity as compared to their analogous nonresonant counterparts at the level of both entire systems and subsystem planetary pairs and chains. These results are broadly consistent with a variety of formation paradigms for multiple-planet systems, such as convergent migration within a turbulent protoplanetary disk or planet–planet interactions incited by postnebular dynamical instabilities. Nevertheless, further investigation is necessary to ascertain whether the nonresonant and near-resonant planetary configurations respectively evolve via a singular process or mechanisms that are dynamically distinct.

Revisiting planetary systems in the Okayama Planet Search Program: A new long-period planet, RV astrometry joint analysis, and a multiplicity-metallicity trend around evolved stars

Abstract In this study, we revisit 32 planetary systems around evolved stars observed within the framework of the Okayama Planet Search Program (OPSP) and its collaborative framework of the East Asian Planet Search Network to search for additional companions and investigate the properties of stars and giant planets in multiple-planet systems. With our latest radial velocities obtained from Okayama Astrophysical Observatory, we confirm an additional giant planet in the wide orbit of the 75 Cet system ($P_{\rm {c}} = 2051.62_{-40.47}^{+45.98}\ \rm {d}$, $M_{\rm {c}}\sin i=0.912_{-0.090}^{+0.088}\,\,M_{\rm {J}}$, and $a_{\rm {c}}=3.929_{-0.058}^{+0.052}\ \rm {au}$), along with five stars exhibiting long-term radial velocity accelerations, which indicates massive companions in the wide orbits. We also find that the radial velocity variations of several planet-harboring stars may indicate additional planet candidates, stellar activities, or other understudied sources. These stars include ϵ Tau, 11 Com, 24 Boo, 41 Lyn, 14 And, HD 32518, and ω Ser. We further constrain the orbital configuration of the HD 5608, HD 14067, HD 120084, and HD 175679 systems by combining radial velocities with astrometry, as their host central stars exhibit significant astrometric accelerations. For other systems, we simply refine their orbital parameters. Moreover, our study indicates that the OPSP planet-harboring stars are more metal poor compared to the currently known planet-harboring stars, and this is likely due to the B − V color upper limit at 1.0 for star selection in the beginning of the survey. Finally, by investigating the less massive giant planets (&amp;lt;5 MJ) around currently known planet-harboring evolved stars, we find that metallicity positively correlates with the multiplicity and total planet mass of the system, which can be evidence for the core-accretion planet formation model.

Radial distribution of giant exoplanets at Solar System scales

Aims. Giant planets play a major role in multiple planetary systems. Knowing their demographics is important to test their overall impact on the formation of planetary systems. It is also important to test their formation processes. Recently, three radial velocity (RV) surveys have established radial distributions of giant planets. All show a steep increase up to 1–3 au, and two suggest a decrease beyond that. Methods. We aim to understand the limitations associated with the characterization of long-period giant RV planets, and to estimate their impact on the radial distribution of these planets. Results. We revisit the results obtained by two major surveys that derived such radial distributions, using the RV data available at the time of the surveys as well as, whenever possible, new data. Conclusions. We show that the radial distributions published beyond (5–8 au) are not secure. More precisely, the decrease in the radial distribution beyond the peak at 1–3 au is not confirmed.

A new dynamical modeling of the WASP-47 system with CHEOPS observations

Among the hundreds of known hot Jupiters (HJs), only five have been found to have companions on short-period orbits. Within this rare class of multiple planetary systems, the architecture of WASP-47 is unique, hosting an HJ (planet-b) with both an inner and an outer sub-Neptunian mass companion (-e and -d, respectively) as well as an additional non-transiting, long-period giant (-c). The small period ratio between planets -b and -d boosts the transit time variation (TTV) signal, making it possible to reliably measure the masses of these planets in synergy with the radial velocity (RV) technique. In this paper, we present new space- and ground-based photometric data of WASP-47b and WASP-47-d, including 11 unpublished light curves from the ESA mission CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS). We analyzed the light curves in a homogeneous way together with all the publicly available data to carry out a global N-body dynamical modeling of the TTV and RV signals. We retrieved, among other parameters, a mass and density for planet -d of Md = 15.5 ± 0.8 M⊕ and ρd = 1.69 ± 0.22 g cm−3, which is in good agreement with the literature and consistent with a Neptune-like composition. For the inner planet (-e), we found a mass and density of Me = 9.0 ± 0.5 M⊕ and ρe = 8.1 ± 0.5 g cm−3, suggesting an Earth-like composition close to other ultra-hot planets at similar irradiation levels. Though this result is in agreement with previous RV plus TTV studies, it is not in agreement with the most recent RV analysis (at 2.8σ), which yielded a lower density compatible with a pure silicate composition. This discrepancy highlights the still unresolved issue of suspected systematic offsets between RV and TTV measurements. In this paper, we also significantly improve the orbital ephemerides of all transiting planets, which will be crucial for any future follow-up.

Dynamical Evolution of Closely Packed Multiple Planetary Systems Subject to Atmospheric Mass Loss

A gap in exoplanets’ radius distribution has been widely attributed to the photoevaporation threshold of their progenitors’ gaseous envelope. Giant impacts can also lead to substantial mass loss. The outflowing gas endures tidal torque from the planets and their host stars. Alongside the planet–star tidal and magnetic interaction, this effect leads to planets’ orbital evolution. In multiple super-Earth systems, especially in those that are closely spaced and/or contain planets locked in mean motion resonances, modest mass loss can lead to dynamical instabilities. In order to place some constraints on the extent of planets’ mass loss, we study the evolution of a series of idealized systems of multiple planets with equal masses and a general scaled separation. We consider mass loss from one or more planets either in the conservative limit or with angular momentum loss from the system. We show that the stable preservation of idealized multiple planetary systems requires either a wide initial separation or a modest upper limit in the amount of mass loss. This constraint is stringent for the multiple planetary systems in compact and resonant chains. Perturbation due to either impulsive giant impacts between super-Earths or greater than a few percent mass loss can lead to dynamical instabilities.

A New Third Planet and the Dynamical Architecture of the HD 33142 Planetary System* *Based on observations collected at the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere under ESO programs 60.A-9700, 60.A-9036, 097.C-0090, 0100.C-0414, 0101.C-0232, 0102.C-0338, and MPG programs 088.C-0892, 099.A-9009, 0100.A-9006.

Based on recently-taken and archival HARPS, FEROS, and HIRES radial velocities (RVs), we present evidence for a new planet orbiting the first ascent red giant star HD 33142 (with an improved mass estimate of M1.52 ± 0.03 M ⊙), already known to host two planets. We confirm the Jovian-mass planets HD 33142b and c, with periods of P b = days and P c = days and minimum dynamical masses of = M Jup and = MJup, respectively. Furthermore, our periodogram analysis of the precise RVs shows strong evidence for a short-period Doppler signal in the residuals of a two-planet Keplerian fit, which we interpret as a third, Saturn-mass planet with = M Jup in a close-in orbit with an orbital period of P d = days. We study the dynamical behavior of the three-planet system configuration with an N-body integration scheme, finding it to be long-term stable with the planets alternating between low and moderate eccentricity episodes. We also perform N-body simulations, including stellar evolution and second-order dynamical effects such as planet–stellar tides and stellar mass loss on the way to the white dwarf phase. We find that planets HD 33142b, c, and d are likely to be engulfed near the tip of the red giant branch phase due to tidal migration. These results make the HD 33142 system an essential benchmark for planet population statistics of the multiple-planet systems found around evolved stars.

Edge-of-the-Multis: Evidence for a Transition in the Outer Architectures of Compact Multiplanet Systems

Although the architectures of compact multiple-planet systems are well characterized, there has been little examination of their “outer edges,” or the locations of their outermost planets. Here we present evidence that the observed high-multiplicity Kepler systems truncate at smaller orbital periods than can be explained by geometric and detection biases alone. To show this, we considered the existence of hypothetical planets orbiting beyond the observed transiting planets with properties dictated by the “peas-in-a-pod” patterns of intrasystem radius and period ratio uniformity. We evaluated the detectability of these hypothetical planets using (1) a novel approach for estimating the mutual inclination dispersion of multitransiting systems based on transit chord length ratios, and (2) a model of transit probability and detection efficiency that accounts for the impacts of planet multiplicity on completeness. Under the assumption that the “peas-in-a-pod” patterns continue to larger orbital separations than observed, we find that ≳35% of Kepler compact multis should possess additional detected planets beyond the known planets, constituting a ∼7σ discrepancy with the lack of such detections. These results indicate that the outer (∼100–300 days) regions of compact multis experience a truncation (i.e., an “edge-of-the-multis”) or a significant breakdown of the “peas-in-a-pod” patterns, in the form of systematically smaller radii or larger period ratios. We outline future observations that can distinguish these possibilities, and we discuss implications for planet formation theories.

Generalized Peas in a Pod: Extending Intra-system Mass Uniformity to Non-TTV Systems via the Gini Index

It has been demonstrated that planets belonging to the same close-in, compact multiple-planet system tend to exhibit a striking degree of uniformity in their sizes. A similar trend has also been found to hold for the masses of such planets, but considerations of such intra-system mass uniformity have generally been limited to statistical samples wherein a majority of systems have constituent planetary mass measurements obtained via analysis of transit timing variations (TTVs). Since systems with strong TTV signals typically lie in or near mean motion resonance, it remains to be seen whether intra-system mass uniformity is still readily emergent for nonresonant systems with non-TTV mass provenance. We thus present in this work a mass uniformity analysis of 17 non-TTV systems with masses measured via radial velocity measurements. Using the Gini index, a common statistic for economic inequality, as our primary metric for uniformity, we find that our sample of 17 non-TTV systems displays intra-system mass uniformity at a level of ∼2.5σ confidence. We provide additional discussion of possible statistical and astrophysical underpinnings for this result. We also demonstrate the existence of a correlation (r = 0.25) between characteristic solid surface density (Σ0) of the minimum-mass extrasolar nebula and system mass Gini index, suggesting that more-massive disks may generally form systems with more-unequal planetary masses.

Orbital obliquity sampling in the Kepler-20 system using the 3D animation software Blender

Context.The mutual orbital alignment in multiple planetary systems is an important parameter for understanding their formation. There are a number of elaborate techniques to determine the alignment parameters using photometric or spectroscopic data. Planet–planet occultations (PPOs), which can occur in multiple transiting systems, are one intuitive example. While the presence of PPOs constrains the orbital alignment, the absence at first glance does not.Aims.Planetary systems, for which the measurement of orbital obliquities with conventional techniques remains elusive, call for new methods whereby at least some information on the alignments can be obtained. Here we develop a method that uses photometric data to gain this kind of information from multi-transit events.Methods.In our approach we synthesize multi-transit light curves of the exoplanets in question via the construction of a grid of projected orbital tilt anglesα, while keeping all transit parameters constant. These model light curves contain PPOs for some values ofα. To compute the model light curves, we use the 3D animation software Blender for our transit simulations, which allows the use of arbitrary surface brightness distributions of the star, such as limb darkening from model atmospheres. The resulting model light curves are then compared to actual measurements.Results.We present a detailed study of the multi-transiting planetary system Kepler-20, including parameter fits of the transiting planets and an analysis of the stellar activity. We apply our method to Kepler-20 b and c, where we are able to exclude some orbital geometries, and find a tendency of these planets to eclipse in front of different stellar hemispheres in a prograde direction.Conclusions.Despite the low statistical significance of our results in the case of Kepler-20, we argue that our method is valuable for systems where PPO signals larger than the noise can occur. According to our analysis, noise ≤ 2 × 10−4for planets like Kepler-20 b, or a planet radius ≥ 3REarthfor the smaller component and Kepler-20-like photometry, would be sufficient to achieve significant results.

Demographics of Exoplanets in Binaries. I. Architecture of S-type Planetary Systems Revealed by the Radial-velocity Sample

Abstract Although the sample of exoplanets in binaries has been greatly expanded, the sample heterogeneity and observational bias are obstacles toward a clear figure of exoplanet demographics in the binary environment. To overcome the obstacles, we conduct a statistical study that focuses on S-type (circumstellar) planetary systems detected by the radial-velocity (RV) method. We try to account for observational biases by estimating, from available RV data, planet detection efficiencies for each individual system. Our main results are as follows. (1) Single (resp. multiple) planetary systems are mostly found in close (wide) binaries with separation a B &lt; (&gt;) ∼ 100–300 au. (2) In binaries, single and multiple-planet systems are similar in 1D distributions of mass and period as well as eccentricity (in contrast to the “eccentricity dichotomy” found in single star systems) but different in the 2D period-mass diagram. Specifically, there is a rectangular-shaped gap in the period-mass diagram of single-planet systems but not for multiples. This gap also depends on binary separation and is more prominent in close binaries. (3) There is a rising upper envelope in the period-mass diagram for planets in wide binaries as well as in single stars but not in close binaries. More specifically, there is a population of massive short-period planets in close binaries but almost absent in wide binaries or single stars. We suggest that enhanced planetary migration, collision and/or ejection in close binaries could be the potential underlying explanation for these three features.

Size Evolution and Orbital Architecture of KEPLER Small Planets through Giant Impacts and Photoevaporation

AbstractThe KEPLER transit survey with follow-up spectroscopic observations has discovered numerous small planets (super-Earths/sub-Neptunes) and revealed intriguing features of their sizes, orbital periods, and their relations between adjacent planets. The planet size distribution exhibits a bimodal distribution separated by a radius gap at around 1.8 Earth radii. Besides, these small planets within multiple planetary systems show that adjacent planets are similar in size and their period ratios of adjacent planet pairs are similar as well, a phenomenon often dubbed as peas-in-a-pod in the exoplanet community. While the radius gap has been predicted and theorized for years, whether it can be relevant to the orbital architecture peas-in-a-pod is physically unknown. For the first time, we attempted to model both features together through planet formation and evolution processes involving giant impacts and photoevaporation. We showed that our model is generally consistent with the KEPLER results but with a smaller radius gap. The impact of Kubyshikina’s model for photoevaporation on our model is discussed.

TOI-2076 and TOI-1807: Two Young, Comoving Planetary Systems within 50 pc Identified by TESS that are Ideal Candidates for Further Follow Up

Abstract We report the discovery of two planetary systems around comoving stars: TOI-2076 (TIC 27491137) and TOI-1807 (TIC 180695581). TOI-2076 is a nearby (41.9 pc) multiplanetary system orbiting a young (204 ± 50 Myr), bright (K = 7.115 in TIC v8.1) start. TOI-1807 hosts a single transiting planet and is similarly nearby (42.58 pc), similarly young (180 ± 40 Myr ), and bright. Both targets exhibit significant, periodic variability due to starspots, characteristic of their young ages. Using photometric data collected by TESS we identify three transiting planets around TOI-2076 with radii of R b = 3.3 ± 0.04 R ⊕, R c = 4.4 ± 0.05 R ⊕, and R d = 4.1 ± 0.07 R ⊕. Planet TOI-2076b has a period of P b = 10.356 days. For both TOI-2076c and d, TESS observed only two transits, separated by a 2 yr interval in which no data were collected, preventing a unique period determination. A range of long periods (&lt;17 days) are consistent with the data. We identify a short-period planet around TOI-1807 with a radius of R b = 1.8 ± 0.04 R ⊕ and a period of P b = 0.549 days. Their close proximity, and bright, cool host stars, and young ages make these planets excellent candidates for follow up. TOI-1807b is one of the best-known small (R &lt; 2 R ⊕ ) planets for characterization via eclipse spectroscopy and phase curves with JWST. TOI-1807b is the youngest ultra-short-period planet discovered to date, providing valuable constraints on formation timescales of short-period planets. Given the rarity of young planets, particularly in multiple-planet systems, these planets present an unprecedented opportunity to study and compare exoplanet formation, and young planet atmospheres, at a crucial transition age for formation theory.

In situ formation of hot Jupiters with companion super-Earths

ABSTRACT Observations have confirmed the existence of multiple-planet systems containing a hot Jupiter and smaller planetary companions. Examples include WASP-47, Kepler-730, and TOI-1130. We examine the plausibility of forming such systems in situ using N-body simulations that include a realistic treatment of collisions, an evolving protoplanetary disc, and eccentricity/inclination damping of planetary embryos. Initial conditions are constructed using two different models for the core of the giant planet: a ‘seed-model’ and an ‘equal-mass-model’. The former has a more massive protoplanet placed among multiple small embryos in a compact configuration. The latter consists only of equal-mass embryos. Simulations of the seed-model lead to the formation of systems containing a hot Jupiter and super-Earths. The evolution consistently follows four distinct phases: early giant impacts; runaway gas accretion on to the seed protoplanet; disc damping-dominated evolution of the embryos orbiting exterior to the giant; a late chaotic phase after dispersal of the gas disc. Approximately 1 per cent of the equal-mass simulations form a giant and follow the same four-phase evolution. Synthetic transit observations of the equal-mass simulations provide an occurrence rate of 0.26 per cent for systems containing a hot Jupiter and an inner super-Earth, similar to the 0.2 per cent occurrence rate from actual transit surveys, but simulated hot Jupiters are rarely detected as single transiting planets, in disagreement with observations. A subset of our simulations form two close-in giants, similar to the WASP-148 system. The scenario explored here provides a viable pathway for forming systems with unusual architectures, but does not apply to the majority of hot Jupiters.

Close stellar encounters kicking planets out of habitable zone in various stellar environments

Continuous habitability of a planet is a critical condition for advanced forms of life to appear, but it can be endangered by astronomical events such as stellar encounters. The purpose of this study is to analyze close stellar encounters able to change planetary orbits initially in circumstellar habitable zones and to investigate the expected encounter rates in a variety of stellar environments. Using gravitational simulations for three-body systems, this study analyzed the dependencies of encounter impact-parameters with kinematic, geometric, and habitability parameters of the system. We also used kinematic properties of various stellar regions and estimated encounter rates of the events. The expected number of threatening stellar encounters in the Solar neighborhood is [Formula: see text] in 4 billion years, while for the Galactic bulge environment, we expect approximately 5.5 times the value. The encounter rates for other stellar environments are calculated and spheroidal dwarf galaxies and globular clusters encounter rates are estimated. The results show that in contrast with the solar neighborhood, close stellar encounters can play a significant role in the expected number of planets with continuous habitability in dense stellar environments. Another notable result shows that threatening stellar encounter rate follows the number density of stars, and is not strongly dependent of the region’s velocity dispersion. Further investigations are needed to study long-term multiple planetary systems and how they can change the overall expected value of continuously habitable planets.