404 research outputs found
Two Classes of Hot Jupiters
We identify two classes of transiting planet, based on their equilibrium
temperatures and Safronov numbers. We examine various possible explanations for
the dichotomy. It may reflect the influence of planet or planetesimal
scattering in determining when planetary migration stops. Another possibility
is that some planets lose more mass to evaporation than others. If this
evaporation process preferentially removes Helium from the planet, the
consequent reduction in the mean molecular weight may explain why some planets
have anomalously large radii.Comment: 35 pages, 16 figures in Preprint format. Submitted to Ap
- …