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A&A 434, 1191-1200 (2005)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20041680
Stellar wind regimes of close-in extrasolar planets
S. Preusse1, A. Kopp1, J. Büchner1 and U. Motschmann21 Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
e-mail: [preusse;kopp;buechner]@mps.mpg.de
2 Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstrasse 3, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
e-mail: u.motschmann@tu-bs.de
(Received 16 July 2004 / Accepted 26 December 2004)
Abstract
Close-in extrasolar planets of Sun-like stars are exposed to
stellar wind conditions that differ considerably from those for planets in the solar
system. Unfortunately, these stellar winds belong to the still unknown parameters of
these planetary systems. On the other hand, they play a crucial role in a number
of star-planet interaction processes that may lead to observable radiation events. In order to lay a foundation
for the investigation of such interaction processes, we estimate stellar wind parameters on the
basis of the solar wind model by Weber & Davis and study the
implications of the stellar magnetic fields. Our results suggest that in contrast
to the solar system planets, some close-in extrasolar planets may be
obstacles in a sub-Alfvénic stellar wind flow. In this case, the stellar wind magnetic pressure is comparable to or even larger than the dynamic flow pressure. We discuss possible consequences of these findings for the wind-exoplanet interactions. Further, we derive upper limit estimates for the energies such stellar winds can deposit in the exoplanetary magnetospheres. We finally discuss the implications the sub-Alfvénic environment may have on the star-planet interaction.
Key words: stars: winds, outflows -- stars: magnetic fields -- magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) -- stars: planetary systems
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