Universität zu Köln

Fischer, Christian ORCID: 0000-0002-7299-8661 and Saur, Joachim ORCID: 0000-0003-1413-1231 (2019). Time-variable Electromagnetic Star-Planet Interaction: The TRAPPIST-1 System as an Exemplary Case. Astrophys. J., 872 (1). BRISTOL: IOP PUBLISHING LTD. ISSN 1538-4357

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Abstract

Exoplanets sufficiently close to their host star can in principle couple electrodynamically to the star. This process is known as electrodynamic star-planet interaction (SPI). The expected emission associated with this coupling, however, is difficult to observe due to the bright intrinsic stellar emission. Identification of time variability in the stellar light curve is one of the most promising approaches to identify SPI. In this work we therefore systematically investigate various mechanisms and their associated periods, which generate time variability to aid the search for SPI. We find that the synodic rotation period of the stars and half of this period, as measured in the rest frames of the orbiting exoplanets, are basic periods occurring in SPI. We apply our findings to the example of TRAPPIST-1 with its seven close-in planets, for which we investigate the possibility of SPI and the associated time variabilities. We show that TRAPPIST-1b and c, in particular, are very likely subject to sub-Alfvenic interaction, a necessary condition for SPI. Both planets are therefore expected to generate Alfven wings, which can couple to the star. The associated Poynting fluxes are of the order of 10(11) to 10(15) W and thus can hardly be the direct source of currently observable time variability from TRAPPIST-1. However, these Poynting fluxes might trigger flares on the star. We find correlations between the observed flares and the expected planet-induced signals, which could be due to SPI, but our findings are not conclusive and warrant further observations and modeling.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Fischer, Christian UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-7299-8661 UNSPECIFIED Saur, Joachim UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-1413-1231 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-156740
DOI:	10.3847/1538-4357/aafaf2
Journal or Publication Title:	Astrophys. J.
Volume:	872
Number:	1
Date:	2019
Publisher:	IOP PUBLISHING LTD
Place of Publication:	BRISTOL
ISSN:	1538-4357
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language MASS-LOSS; CHROMOSPHERIC ACTIVITY; AURORAL FOOTPRINT; PLASMA; IO; CONSTRAINTS; VARIABILITY; EXOPLANETS; FLARES Multiple languages Astronomy & Astrophysics Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/15674