Stable orbits for hot Jupiters?

In summary, it is not necessary for hot jupiters to be in resonance in order to have a stable orbit. However, a large number of multi-planet extrasolar systems are known to have resonant planets. If our solar system were simulated with a hot jupiter, there would be many possible resonances with our own jupiter. It is unclear if the hot jupiter would be in a non-integral resonance, and if our cold gas giant were discarded, it could change the resonance. The migration theory suggests that other cold giants may have been destroyed or ejected, and it is possible for hot jupiters to form in situ and seed other giants further out through resonance perturbations. Hot jupiters are also
  • #1
cph
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Would it seem reasonable that so-called ‘hot jupiters’ are in resonance i.e. have a stable orbit? If one utilized our stellar system as a simulation, with the addition of a hot jupiter, then what would the resonance be? Would it be calculated as non integral? Then if our cold gas giant were discarded, would this then seem to change the resonance; hence the possibility of a stable orbit? Thus might the data set of hot jupiters of approximately 70-100, all have systems with no cold gas giants? Would this then also be consistent with a 3-body scenario, with ejection of a cold gas giant and inward migration of what becomes a hot Jupiter in stable orbit? Hence would one have the prediction of no cold gas giants for any of the hot Jupiter systems?
 
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  • #3
cph said:
Would it seem reasonable that so-called ‘hot jupiters’ are in resonance i.e. have a stable orbit?
Resonance is not required for a stable orbit. A large number (and fraction) of multi-planet extrasolar systems are known to be in resonance however. It is a little more complicated with hot-jupiters, because they are so close in. In general, the hot-jupiters with eccentric orbits can be assumed to not be in significant resonances.

cph said:
If one utilized our stellar system as a simulation, with the addition of a hot jupiter, then what would the resonance be?
There would be many possible resonances... i.e. there are many semi-majoraxes at which the hot Jupiter could be in a resonance with our-own jupiter.

cph said:
Would it be calculated as non integral?
What do you mean?---Resonances are defined as (near) integral.

cph said:
Then if our cold gas giant were discarded, would this then seem to change the resonance.
Well, if there's nothing to resonate with... then yes, it would change the resonance.
It could still be in resonance with saturn (more accurately, saturn could be in resonance with it).

cph said:
Hence would one have the prediction of no cold gas giants for any of the hot Jupiter systems?
There are a tremendous number of 'if's and steps in that argument... many of which I don't quite follow.

Overall: if the migration theory is correct, it is reasonable to assume that other cold-giants might have been ejected or otherwise destroyed. It is also possible that other bodies could survive. Additionally, if some hot-jupiters managed to form in situ, in might be a good method of seeding other giants further out (via resonance perturbations).
 
  • #4
Wouldn't hot jupiters be effected by million degree corona and/or stellar flares?
 
  • #5
Yes, their hot, bloated atmospheres are being eroded by the solar wind. IIRC, some seem to have a sufficiently intense magnetosphere to slow this process...
 

1. What are "hot Jupiters"?

Hot Jupiters are a type of exoplanet, or planet outside of our solar system, that are similar in size to Jupiter but orbit extremely close to their host star. They are typically large, gaseous planets with very short orbital periods, often less than 10 days.

2. How do hot Jupiters form?

The formation of hot Jupiters is still a topic of ongoing research, but some theories suggest that they may form further away from their host star and then migrate inwards due to interactions with other planets or the protoplanetary disk.

3. Why do hot Jupiters have stable orbits despite their close proximity to their host star?

Hot Jupiters are able to maintain stable orbits due to a phenomenon called tidal locking, where the gravitational forces from the host star cause the planet to rotate at the same rate as its orbit. This helps to balance out the effects of the host star's gravity and keep the planet in a stable orbit.

4. How do scientists study the stability of hot Jupiter orbits?

Scientists use various techniques, such as radial velocity measurements and transit observations, to study the orbits of hot Jupiters. They can also use computer simulations and models to predict the stability of these orbits over time.

5. What impact do hot Jupiters have on their host star?

Hot Jupiters can have a significant impact on their host star, causing it to wobble slightly due to their gravitational pull and potentially affecting the formation and stability of other planets in the system. They can also cause changes in the host star's magnetic field and potentially affect its brightness and activity levels.

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