Radio emission from star-planet interactions
Abstract
Stars interact with their exoplanets though gravity, radiation, plasma and magnetic fields. Stellar plasma and magnetic fields impose electrodynamic effects on exoplanet atmospheres and interiors that include heating, aurorae and atmospheric mass loss. The planets in turn can excite Alfvénic disturbances that are dissipated on the star leading to chromospheric heating and flares. This interaction, broadly called magnetic star-planet interaction (M-SPI), can also generate radio signatures both from the star and the exoplanet. The radio emission encodes information on the dynamics/energetics of the interaction, the magnetic field strength and topology of the emitter and the orbital/rotational geometry of the system -- information that is difficult or in some cases implausible to obtain by other means. Yet we do not have a conclusive detection of M-SPI in the radio band primarily due to sensitivity limitations and scarce observing time spent monitoring promising targets. Here we describe the scientific motivation to study M-SPI in exoplanetary systems, to get progress in understanding its predicted signal strength and phenomenology. We argue that the SKA telescopes can make a transformative contribution to exoplanet science by detecting M-SPI in the radio band but this will require substantial observing time -- similar to that afforded to successful optical-band searches for M-SPI signatures.
Authors 15
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University of Groningen · Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
Affiliation as printed
ASTRON , Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy , Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4 , 7991 PD , Dwingeloo , The Netherlands
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute , University of Groningen , Landleven 12 , 9747 AD Groningen , Netherlands
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris · Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation · CEA Paris-Saclay · Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
Affiliation as printed
Département d'Astrophysique/AIM , CEA/IRFU , CNRS /INSU , Université Paris-Saclay , Université de Paris
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Sorbonne Paris Cité
Affiliation as printed
LIRA , Observatoire de Paris-PSL , CNRS , Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité , 92190 Meudon , France
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Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences · University of Amsterdam · Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
Affiliation as printed
ASTRON , Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy , Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4 , 7991 PD , Dwingeloo , The Netherlands
Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy , University of Amsterdam , Science Park 904 , 1098 XH Amsterdam Nederland
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Affiliation as printed
Institut de Ciéncies de l'Espai (ICE, CSIC) , Campus UAB , Carrer de Can Magrans s/n , 08193 Bellaterra , Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Institut de Ciéncies de l'Espai (ICE, CSIC) , Campus UAB , Carrer de Can Magrans s/n , 08193 Bellaterra , Spain
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Sorbonne Paris Cité
Affiliation as printed
LIRA , Observatoire de Paris-PSL , CNRS , Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité , 92190 Meudon , France
ORN , Observatoire de Paris-PSL , CNRS , Université d'Orléans , 18330 Nançay , France
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Sorbonne Paris Cité
Affiliation as printed
LIRA , Observatoire de Paris-PSL , CNRS , Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité , 92190 Meudon , France
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Sorbonne Paris Cité
Affiliation as printed
LIRA , Observatoire de Paris-PSL , CNRS , Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité , 92190 Meudon , France
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Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía
Affiliation as printed
Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía , Glorieta de la Astronomía , Spain
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University of Groningen · Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
Affiliation as printed
ASTRON , Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy , Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4 , 7991 PD , Dwingeloo , The Netherlands
Kapteyn Astronomical Institute , University of Groningen , Landleven 12 , 9747 AD Groningen , Netherlands
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Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences · University of Amsterdam · Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
Affiliation as printed
ASTRON , Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy , Oude Hoogeveensedijk 4 , 7991 PD , Dwingeloo , The Netherlands
Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy , University of Amsterdam , Science Park 904 , 1098 XH Amsterdam Nederland
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Leiden University · Leiden Observatory
Affiliation as printed
Leiden Observatory , Leiden University , P.O. Box 9513 , 2300 RA Leiden , The Netherlands
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Aix-Marseille Université · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Sorbonne Paris Cité
Affiliation as printed
LAM , Aix Marseille Université , CNRS , CNES , Marseille , France
LIRA , Observatoire de Paris-PSL , CNRS , Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité , 92190 Meudon , France
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