Can a Planetary System Survive a Host Star Supernova Explosion?
Abstract
The recent search for extrasolar planets has brought a surprising discovery -- almost any star seems to have a planetary system around it. We know that massive stars end their lives in a violent supernova explosion, during which extremely large amount of energy (3x10 46J) is released by the star in a very short time. Can a planetary system survive such a violent event? Can a planet survive? Can planetary biosphere survive? In the current presentation we analyze, based on known physics, the effect of a supernova explosion on a planet orbiting such a star in its habitable zone. Our calculations show that even a small Earth-like planet is not destroyed mechanically nor thermally in such an explosion (and larger planets are even more stable). Nor is a planet kicked out of its orbit due to the momentum of exploding star shell or of due to star's radiation pressure. In some cases even a portion of a planetary biosphere (deep in planet's crust) can survive. However, if a star loses too much mass, a planet would leave. Also, if star's collapse is asymmetric then the star itself can leave the planetary system. The sequence of events during supernova explosion and how they influence such a planet is discussed in the presentation.
- Publication:
-
APS Four Corners Section Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009APS..4CF.C5005P