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Atmospheric Loss of Exoplanets Resulting from Stellar X-Ray and Extreme-Ultraviolet Heating

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Lammer, H., Selsis, F., Ribas, I., Guinan, E. F., Bauer, S. J., Weiss, W. W.·2003·The Astrophysical Journal
DOI 10.1086/380815
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Abstract

Past studies addressing the thermal atmospheric escape of hydrogen from "hot Jupiters" have been based on the planet's effective temperature, which, as we show here, is not physically relevant for loss processes. In consequence, these studies led to significant underestimations of the atmospheric escape rate (≤10 3 g s -1 ) and to the conclusion of long-term atmospheric stability. From more realistic exospheric temperatures, determined from X-ray and extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) irradiation and thermal conduction in the thermosphere, we find that energy-limited escape and atmospheric expansion arise, leading to much higher estimations for the loss rates (≈10 12 g s -1 ). These fluxes are in good agreement with recent determinations for HD 209458b based on observations of its extended exosphere. We also show that for young solar-type stars, which emit stronger XUV fluxes, the inferred loss rates are significantly higher. Thus, hydrogen-rich giant exoplanets under such strong XUV irradiances may evaporate down to their core sizes or shrink to levels at which heavier atmospheric constituents may prevent hydrodynamic escape. These results could explain the apparent paucity of exoplanets so far detected at orbital distances less than 0.04 AU.

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  • The combination of high X-ray-UV irradiance and strong stellar winds expected from young G, K, and M dwarfs can, via ion-pickup mechanisms, act synergically to strip away atmospheres of close-in planets.

    “Lammer et al. (2003) showed that the combination of high X-ray-UV irradiance and strong (more dense) stellar winds expected from young G, K, and M dwarfs can, via ion-pickup mechanisms, act synergically to strip away atmospheres of close-in planets”

    From ABOUT EXOBIOLOGY: THE CASE FOR DWARF K STARS (2016) · cites this paper as Lammer et al. (2003)

    Section 5 reports XUV-driven hydrodynamic escape from close-in giant planets, and the Results section reports higher XUV fluxes for young Sun-like stars. The paper does not support the attributed role of dense stellar winds or ion pickup acting synergistically with XUV, nor does it extend this finding to young K and M dwarfs. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • High levels of energetic radiation lead to significant planetary atmospheric evaporation.

    “Ultimately, high levels of energetic radiation lead to significant planetary atmospheric evaporation, as discussed by, e.g., Lammer et al. (2003), Vidal-Madjar et al. (2003), and Penz & Micela (2008).”

    From ABOUT EXOBIOLOGY: THE CASE FOR DWARF K STARS (2016) · cites this paper as Lammer et al. (2003)

  • Mars' reddish, hyperoxidised surface, which is extremely inhospitable to life, is a direct result of the escape of hydrogen to space over geologic time.

    “Mars' reddish, hyperoxidised surface, which is extremely inhospitable to life, is a direct result of the escape of hydrogen to space over geologic time (Lammer et al. 2003).”

    From The Climate of Early Mars (2016) · cites this paper as Lammer et al. 2003

    The Abstract and §6 Results discuss hydrogen escape from close-in giant exoplanets, not Mars. Searches for Mars, surface oxidation, habitability, and a causal link to hydrogen escape found no passage addressing the attributed claim; page numbers were unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. [12]12. Guinan, E. F., & Ribas, I. 2002, in ASP Conf. Ser. 269, The Evolving Sun and Its Influence on Planetary Environments, ed. B. Montesinos, A. Gimenez, & E. F. Guinan (San Francisco: ASP), 85
  2. [17]17. Kuchner, M. J. 2003, ApJ, in press
  3. [19]19. Lammer, H., Selsis, F., Ribas, I., Lichtenegger, H. I. M., Penz, T., Guinan, E. F., Bauer, S. J., & Weiss, W. W. 2003b, in Towards Other Earths (Darwin/ TPF), ed. B. Battrick (ESA SP-539; Noordwijk: ESA), in press
  4. [24]24. Schneider, J., Rauer, H., Lasota, J. P., Bonazzola, S., & Chassefı ´ere, E. 1998, in ASP Conf. Ser. 134, Brown Dwarfs and Extrasolar Planets, ed. R. Rebolo, E. L. Martin, & M. R. Zapatero Osorio (San Francisco: ASP), 241
  5. [30]30. Wuchterl, G., Guillot, T., & Lissauer, J. J. 2000, in Protostars and Planets IV, ed. V. Mannings, A. P. Boss, & S. S. Russell (Tucson: Univ. Arizona Press), 1081

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Authors
Lammer, H., Selsis, F., Ribas, I., Guinan, E. F., Bauer, S. J., & Weiss, W. W.
Affiliations
  • Austrian Academy of Sciences (AT)
  • Centro de Astrobiología (ES)
  • Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
  • Villanova University (US)
  • University of Graz (AT)
  • University of Vienna (AT)
ORCID
Venue
The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Published
2003-11-13
Volume
598
Issue
2
Pages
L121-L124
ISSN
  • 0004-637X (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-4357
DOI
10.1086/380815
OpenAlex
W1965833171
Cited by
636
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 19
FWCI
7.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
The Astrophysical Journal (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Instrumentation › Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
Keywords
atmospheric escape, hot Jupiters, exoplanet atmospheres, extreme ultraviolet irradiation, hydrogen escape, exospheric temperature, atmospheric expansion, HD 209458b, young solar-type stars, planet migration

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