Effect of stellar flares on the upper atmospheres of HD 189733b and HD 209458b
Abstract
Stellar flares are a frequent occurrence on young low-mass stars around which many detected exoplanets orbit. Flares are energetic, impulsive events, and their impact on exoplanetary atmospheres needs to be taken into account when interpreting transit observations. We have developed a model to describe the upper atmosphere of extrasolar giant planets (EGPs) orbiting flaring stars. The model simulates thermal escape from the upper atmospheres of close-in EGPs. Ionisation by solar radiation and electron impact is included and photo-chemical and diffusive transport processes are simulated. This model is used to study the effect of stellar flares from the solar-like G star
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- December 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361/201731129
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1710.08365
- Bibcode:
- 2017A&A...608A..75C
- Keywords:
-
- planets and satellites: atmospheres;
- planets and satellites: individual: HD 189733b;
- ultraviolet: stars;
- planets and satellites: individual: HD 209458b;
- stars: flare;
- X-rays: stars;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- accepted for publication in A&