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Explore the diversity of extrasolar terrestrial planets through a unique blend of dynamical simulations and chemical equilibrium models. Investigate the existence and characteristics of these planets in known extrasolar planetary systems. Analyze compositions, abundances, and implications for geology and planetary structures. Discover Earth-like and carbon-rich compositions, shedding light on the potential uniqueness of these distant worlds.
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The Diversity of Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets J. Bond, D. Lauretta & D. O’Brien USyd Colloquium 14th July 2008
Chemistry meets Dynamics • Most dynamical studies of planetesimal formation have neglected chemical constraints • Most chemical studies of planetesimal formation have neglected specific dynamical studies • This issue has become more pronounced with studies of extrasolar planetary systems which are both dynamically and chemically unusual • Astrobiologically significant • Combine dynamical models of terrestrial planet formation with chemical equilibrium models of the condensation of solids in the protoplanetary nebulae
Two Big Questions • Are terrestrial planets likely to exist in known extrasolar planetary systems? • What would they be like?
Dynamical simulations reproduce the terrestrial planets • Use very high resolution n-body accretion simulations of terrestrial planet accretion (e.g. O’Brien et al. 2006) • Incorporate dynamical friction • Start with 25 Mars mass embryos and ~1000 planetesimals from 0.3 AU to innermost giant planet • Neglects mass loss
Equilibrium thermodynamics predict bulk compositions of planetesimals • Consider 16 elements: H, He, C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni • Assign each embryo and planetesimal a composition based on formation region • Adopt the P-T profiles of Hersant et al (2001) at 7 time steps (0.25 – 3 Myr) • Assume no volatile loss during accretion, homogeneity and equilibrium is maintained
Equilibrium thermodynamics predict bulk compositions of planetesimals
“Ground Truthing” • Consider the CJS1 system: • 1.15 MEarth at 0.64AU • 0.81 MEarth at 1.21AU • 0.78 MEarth at 1.69AU
Results • Reasonable agreement with planetary abundances • Values are within 1 wt%, except for Mg, O and S and Si (EJS only) • Deviations: • Mg ~ 5 wt% • O & S ~ 4 wt% • Si ~ 2 wt% (EJS only) • Mg/Si ratio less than planetary (0.47-0.76), implying there is some other way to fractionate one or both of these elements in the early Solar System
Extrasolar “Earths” • Apply same methodology to extrasolar systems • Use spectroscopic photospheric abundances (H, He, C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni) • Compositions determined by equilibrium • Varied positions and masses of known giants and stellar mass • Assumed closed systems
Extrasolar “Earths” • Terrestrial planets formed in ALL systems studied • Most <1 Earth-mass within 2AU of the host star • Often multiple terrestrial planets formed
Extrasolar “Earths” • Examine four ESP systems • Gl777A – 1.04 MSUN G star, [Fe/H] = 0.24 • 0.06 MJ planet at 0.13AU • 1.50 MJ planet at 3.92AU • HD72659 – 0.95 MSUN G star, [Fe/H] = -0.14 • 3.30 MJ planet at 4.16AU • HD75732 (55Cnc) - 1.03 MSUN G star, [Fe/H] = 0.33 • 0.05 MJ at 0.04AU • 0.78 MJ at 0.12AU • 0.22 MJ at 0.24AU • 3.92 MJ at 5.26AU • HD4203 – 1.06 MSUN G star, [Fe/H] = 0.22 • 2.10 MJ planet at 1.09AU
Gl 777A • 1.10 MEarth at 0.89AU
HD72659 • 1.03 MEarth at 0.95AU
HD75732 (55Cnc) • 0.99 MEarth at 1.25AU 7 wt% C
HD4203 • 0.17 MEarth at 0.28AU 53 wt% C
HD4203 • 0.17 MEarth at 0.28AU
Two Classes • Earth-like compositions (Gl777A, HD72659) • C-rich compositions (55 Cnc, HD4203)
Terrestrial Planets are likely in most ESP systems • Terrestrial planets are common • Geology of these planets may be unlike anything we see in the Solar System • Earth-like planets • Carbon as major rock-forming mineral • Implications for plate tectonics, interior structure, surface features, atmospheric compositions . . .