Planetesimal Scattering Efficiency of Cold Giant Planet Architectures
The discovery of many exoplanets has revealed an incredible diversity of orbital architectures. These orbital configurations are intrinsically linked to the potential for habitable environments within the system, since the gravitational influence of the planets governs the angular momentum distribut...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astronomical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ade305 |
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| author | Stephen R. Kane Emma L. Miles |
| author_facet | Stephen R. Kane Emma L. Miles |
| author_sort | Stephen R. Kane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The discovery of many exoplanets has revealed an incredible diversity of orbital architectures. These orbital configurations are intrinsically linked to the potential for habitable environments within the system, since the gravitational influence of the planets governs the angular momentum distribution within the system. This angular momentum distribution in turn alters the planetary orbits and rotational obliquities. In the case of giant planets, their gravitational influence can also produce significant redistribution of volatiles, particularly those that lie beyond the snow line. Here, we present the results of dynamical simulations that investigate the role of cold giant planets in scattering material to inner terrestrial planets. We highlight 10 exoplanetary systems with two or more known giant planets beyond the snow line, and adopt a solar system analog template that investigates the scattering of material within the range 3–8 au. We show that increasing the eccentricity of a Jupiter analog from its present, near-circular value to a moderate range (0.2–0.3) results in an order of magnitude increase in scattered material to the inner part of the system. The inclusion of a Saturn analog to the dynamical model produces a similar increase, highlighting the importance of multiple giant planets beyond the snow line. However, the addition of analogs to Uranus and Neptune can have a minor negative effect on scattering efficiency through the transfer of angular momentum from the inner giant planets. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dee705b39f30427fa06e8ce995537ca6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1538-3881 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-dee705b39f30427fa06e8ce995537ca62025-08-20T03:50:07ZengIOP PublishingThe Astronomical Journal1538-38812025-01-0117028110.3847/1538-3881/ade305Planetesimal Scattering Efficiency of Cold Giant Planet ArchitecturesStephen R. Kane0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7084-0529Emma L. Miles1https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9233-1481Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California , Riverside, CA 92521, USA ; skane@ucr.eduDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California , Riverside, CA 92521, USA ; skane@ucr.eduThe discovery of many exoplanets has revealed an incredible diversity of orbital architectures. These orbital configurations are intrinsically linked to the potential for habitable environments within the system, since the gravitational influence of the planets governs the angular momentum distribution within the system. This angular momentum distribution in turn alters the planetary orbits and rotational obliquities. In the case of giant planets, their gravitational influence can also produce significant redistribution of volatiles, particularly those that lie beyond the snow line. Here, we present the results of dynamical simulations that investigate the role of cold giant planets in scattering material to inner terrestrial planets. We highlight 10 exoplanetary systems with two or more known giant planets beyond the snow line, and adopt a solar system analog template that investigates the scattering of material within the range 3–8 au. We show that increasing the eccentricity of a Jupiter analog from its present, near-circular value to a moderate range (0.2–0.3) results in an order of magnitude increase in scattered material to the inner part of the system. The inclusion of a Saturn analog to the dynamical model produces a similar increase, highlighting the importance of multiple giant planets beyond the snow line. However, the addition of analogs to Uranus and Neptune can have a minor negative effect on scattering efficiency through the transfer of angular momentum from the inner giant planets.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ade305Habitable planetsHabitable zoneExoplanetsExoplanet systemsExoplanet dynamicsExoplanet evolution |
| spellingShingle | Stephen R. Kane Emma L. Miles Planetesimal Scattering Efficiency of Cold Giant Planet Architectures The Astronomical Journal Habitable planets Habitable zone Exoplanets Exoplanet systems Exoplanet dynamics Exoplanet evolution |
| title | Planetesimal Scattering Efficiency of Cold Giant Planet Architectures |
| title_full | Planetesimal Scattering Efficiency of Cold Giant Planet Architectures |
| title_fullStr | Planetesimal Scattering Efficiency of Cold Giant Planet Architectures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Planetesimal Scattering Efficiency of Cold Giant Planet Architectures |
| title_short | Planetesimal Scattering Efficiency of Cold Giant Planet Architectures |
| title_sort | planetesimal scattering efficiency of cold giant planet architectures |
| topic | Habitable planets Habitable zone Exoplanets Exoplanet systems Exoplanet dynamics Exoplanet evolution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ade305 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stephenrkane planetesimalscatteringefficiencyofcoldgiantplanetarchitectures AT emmalmiles planetesimalscatteringefficiencyofcoldgiantplanetarchitectures |