Issue |
A&A
Volume 529, May 2011
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A50 | |
Number of page(s) | 10 | |
Section | Planets and planetary systems | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201016144 | |
Published online | 31 March 2011 |
Constraining tidal dissipation in F-type main-sequence stars: the case of CoRoT-11
1
INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania, via S. Sofia 78,
95123
Catania,
Italy
e-mail: nuccio.lanza@oact.inaf.it
2
Research and Scientific Support Department,
European Space Agency, Keplerlaan 1, 2200AG,
Noordwijk, The
Netherlands
Received:
15
November
2010
Accepted:
18
February
2011
Context. Tidal dissipation in late-type stars is presently poorly understood and the study of planetary systems hosting hot Jupiters can provide new observational constraints to test proposed theories.
Aims. We focus on systems with F-type main-sequence stars and find that the recently discovered system CoRoT-11 is presently the best suited for this kind of investigation.
Methods. A classic constant tidal lag model is applied to reproduce the
evolution of the system from a plausible nearly synchronous state on the zero-age main
sequence (ZAMS) to the present state, thus putting constraints on the average modified
tidal quality factor of its F6V star.Initial
conditions with the stellar rotation period longer than the orbital period of the planet
can be excluded on the basis of the presently observed state in which the star spins
faster than the planet orbit.
Results. It is found that , if the system started
its evolution on the ZAMS close to synchronization, with an uncertainty related to the
constant tidal lag hypothesis and the estimated stellar magnetic braking within a factor
of ≈5–6.For a non-synchronous initial state of the system,
implies an age younger
than ~1 Gyr, while
may be tested by
comparing the theoretically derived initial orbital and stellar rotation periods with
those of a sample of observed systems. Moreover, we discuss how the present value of
can be
measured by a timing of the mid-epoch and duration of the transits as well as of the
planetary eclipses to be observed in the infrared with an accuracy of ~0.5–1 s
over a time baseline of ~25 yr.
Conclusions. CoRoT-11 is a highly interesting system that potentially
allows us a direct measure of the tidal dissipation in an F-type star as well as the
detection of the precession of the orbital plane of the planet that provides us with an
accurate upper limit for the obliquity of the stellar equator. If the planetary orbit has
a significant eccentricity (), it
will be possible to also detect the precession of the line of the apsides and derive
information on the Love number of the planet and its tidal quality factor.
Key words: planetary systems / planet-star interactions / binaries: close / stars: late-type / stars: rotation
© ESO, 2011
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