The Mg i line: A new probe of the atmospheres of evaporating exoplanets

V. Bourrier; A. Lecavelier Des Etangs; A. Vidal-Madjar

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201323266

The Mg i line: A new probe of the atmospheres of evaporating exoplanets

V. Bourrier
, A. Lecavelier Des Etangs
, A. Vidal-Madjar

École Polytechnique

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Transit observations of HD 209458b in the UV revealed signatures of neutral magnesium escaping the planet's upper atmosphere. The absorption detected in the Mg i line provides unprecedented information on the physical conditions at the altitude where the atmospheric blow-off takes place. Here we use a 3D model of atmospheric escape to estimate the transit absorption signatures in the Mg i line of their host stars. The detectability of these signatures depends on the brightness of the star and the escape rate of neutral magnesium. We identify a sample of potentially evaporating exoplanets that covers a wide range of stellar and planetary properties, and whose extended exospheres might be detected through Mg i line observations with current UV facilities, allowing further steps in comparative exoplanetology.

Original language	English
Article number	A11
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	573
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201323266
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2015

Keywords

Methods: numerical
Planets and satellites: atmospheres
Surveys

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10.1051/0004-6361/201323266

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title = "The Mg i line: A new probe of the atmospheres of evaporating exoplanets",

abstract = "Transit observations of HD 209458b in the UV revealed signatures of neutral magnesium escaping the planet's upper atmosphere. The absorption detected in the Mg i line provides unprecedented information on the physical conditions at the altitude where the atmospheric blow-off takes place. Here we use a 3D model of atmospheric escape to estimate the transit absorption signatures in the Mg i line of their host stars. The detectability of these signatures depends on the brightness of the star and the escape rate of neutral magnesium. We identify a sample of potentially evaporating exoplanets that covers a wide range of stellar and planetary properties, and whose extended exospheres might be detected through Mg i line observations with current UV facilities, allowing further steps in comparative exoplanetology.",

keywords = "Methods: numerical, Planets and satellites: atmospheres, Surveys",

author = "V. Bourrier and \{Lecavelier Des Etangs\}, A. and A. Vidal-Madjar",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} ESO, 2014.",

year = "2015",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201323266",

language = "English",

volume = "573",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The Mg i line

T2 - A new probe of the atmospheres of evaporating exoplanets

AU - Bourrier, V.

AU - Lecavelier Des Etangs, A.

AU - Vidal-Madjar, A.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © ESO, 2014.

PY - 2015/1/1

Y1 - 2015/1/1

N2 - Transit observations of HD 209458b in the UV revealed signatures of neutral magnesium escaping the planet's upper atmosphere. The absorption detected in the Mg i line provides unprecedented information on the physical conditions at the altitude where the atmospheric blow-off takes place. Here we use a 3D model of atmospheric escape to estimate the transit absorption signatures in the Mg i line of their host stars. The detectability of these signatures depends on the brightness of the star and the escape rate of neutral magnesium. We identify a sample of potentially evaporating exoplanets that covers a wide range of stellar and planetary properties, and whose extended exospheres might be detected through Mg i line observations with current UV facilities, allowing further steps in comparative exoplanetology.

AB - Transit observations of HD 209458b in the UV revealed signatures of neutral magnesium escaping the planet's upper atmosphere. The absorption detected in the Mg i line provides unprecedented information on the physical conditions at the altitude where the atmospheric blow-off takes place. Here we use a 3D model of atmospheric escape to estimate the transit absorption signatures in the Mg i line of their host stars. The detectability of these signatures depends on the brightness of the star and the escape rate of neutral magnesium. We identify a sample of potentially evaporating exoplanets that covers a wide range of stellar and planetary properties, and whose extended exospheres might be detected through Mg i line observations with current UV facilities, allowing further steps in comparative exoplanetology.

KW - Methods: numerical

KW - Planets and satellites: atmospheres

KW - Surveys

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201323266

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201323266

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84916624237

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 573

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - A11

ER -

The Mg i line: A new probe of the atmospheres of evaporating exoplanets

Abstract

Keywords

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