Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars

A. A. Vidotto; M. Jardine; J. Morin; J. -F. Donati; P. Lang; A. J. B. Russell

Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars

A. A. Vidotto, M. Jardine, J. Morin, J. -F. Donati, P. Lang, A. J. B. Russell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

Recent results showed that the magnetic' field of M-dwarf RIM) stars, currently the main targets in searches for terrestrial planets is very different from the solar one, both in topology as well as in intensity. In particular, the magnetised environment surrounding a planet orbiting in the habitable zone (HZ) of dAl stars can differ substantially to the one encountered around the Earth. These extreme magnetic fields can compress planetary magnetospheres to such an extent that a significant fraction of the planet's atmosphere may be exposed to erosion by the stellar wind. Using observed surface magnetic amps for a sample of 15 (DJ stars, we investigate the minimum degree of planetary magnetospheric compression caused by the intense stellar magnetic fields. We show that hypothetical Earth-like planets with similar terrestrial magnetisation (-1 G) orbiting at the inner (outer) edge of the HZ of these stars would present magnetospheres that extend at most up to 6.1 (11.7) planetary radii. To be able to sustain an Earth-sized magnetosphere, the terrestrial planet would either need to orbit significantly farther out than the traditional limits of the HZ: or else, if it were orbiting within the life-bearing, region. it would require a minimum magnetic field ranging from a few G to up to a few thousand G.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Magnetic fields throughout stellar evolution
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the international Astronomical Union Symposia and Colloquia
Editors	Pascal Petit, Moira Jardine, Hendrik Spruit
Place of Publication	Cambridge
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Pages	237-238
Number of pages	2
ISBN (Print)	9781107044982
Publication status	Published - 24 Aug 2014

Publication series

Name	IAU Symposium Proceedings Series

Keywords

stars: magnetic fields
stars: planetary systems
stars: rotation. astrobiologs

Cite this

Vidotto, A. A., Jardine, M., Morin, J., Donati, J. .-F., Lang, P., & Russell, A. J. B. (2014). Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars. In P. Petit, M. Jardine, & H. Spruit (Eds.), Magnetic fields throughout stellar evolution: Proceedings of the international Astronomical Union Symposia and Colloquia (pp. 237-238). (IAU Symposium Proceedings Series). Cambridge University Press.

Vidotto, A. A. ; Jardine, M. ; Morin, J. et al. / Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars. Magnetic fields throughout stellar evolution: Proceedings of the international Astronomical Union Symposia and Colloquia. editor / Pascal Petit ; Moira Jardine ; Hendrik Spruit. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2014. pp. 237-238 (IAU Symposium Proceedings Series).

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title = "Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars",

abstract = "Recent results showed that the magnetic' field of M-dwarf RIM) stars, currently the main targets in searches for terrestrial planets is very different from the solar one, both in topology as well as in intensity. In particular, the magnetised environment surrounding a planet orbiting in the habitable zone (HZ) of dAl stars can differ substantially to the one encountered around the Earth. These extreme magnetic fields can compress planetary magnetospheres to such an extent that a significant fraction of the planet's atmosphere may be exposed to erosion by the stellar wind. Using observed surface magnetic amps for a sample of 15 (DJ stars, we investigate the minimum degree of planetary magnetospheric compression caused by the intense stellar magnetic fields. We show that hypothetical Earth-like planets with similar terrestrial magnetisation (-1 G) orbiting at the inner (outer) edge of the HZ of these stars would present magnetospheres that extend at most up to 6.1 (11.7) planetary radii. To be able to sustain an Earth-sized magnetosphere, the terrestrial planet would either need to orbit significantly farther out than the traditional limits of the HZ: or else, if it were orbiting within the life-bearing, region. it would require a minimum magnetic field ranging from a few G to up to a few thousand G.",

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author = "Vidotto, {A. A.} and M. Jardine and J. Morin and Donati, {J. -F.} and P. Lang and Russell, {A. J. B.}",

year = "2014",

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day = "24",

language = "English",

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series = "IAU Symposium Proceedings Series",

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Vidotto, AA, Jardine, M, Morin, J, Donati, J-F, Lang, P & Russell, AJB 2014, Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars. in P Petit, M Jardine & H Spruit (eds), Magnetic fields throughout stellar evolution: Proceedings of the international Astronomical Union Symposia and Colloquia. IAU Symposium Proceedings Series, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 237-238.

Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars. / Vidotto, A. A.; Jardine, M.; Morin, J. et al.
Magnetic fields throughout stellar evolution: Proceedings of the international Astronomical Union Symposia and Colloquia. ed. / Pascal Petit; Moira Jardine; Hendrik Spruit. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014. p. 237-238 (IAU Symposium Proceedings Series).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

TY - CHAP

T1 - Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars

AU - Vidotto, A. A.

AU - Jardine, M.

AU - Morin, J.

AU - Donati, J. -F.

AU - Lang, P.

AU - Russell, A. J. B.

PY - 2014/8/24

Y1 - 2014/8/24

N2 - Recent results showed that the magnetic' field of M-dwarf RIM) stars, currently the main targets in searches for terrestrial planets is very different from the solar one, both in topology as well as in intensity. In particular, the magnetised environment surrounding a planet orbiting in the habitable zone (HZ) of dAl stars can differ substantially to the one encountered around the Earth. These extreme magnetic fields can compress planetary magnetospheres to such an extent that a significant fraction of the planet's atmosphere may be exposed to erosion by the stellar wind. Using observed surface magnetic amps for a sample of 15 (DJ stars, we investigate the minimum degree of planetary magnetospheric compression caused by the intense stellar magnetic fields. We show that hypothetical Earth-like planets with similar terrestrial magnetisation (-1 G) orbiting at the inner (outer) edge of the HZ of these stars would present magnetospheres that extend at most up to 6.1 (11.7) planetary radii. To be able to sustain an Earth-sized magnetosphere, the terrestrial planet would either need to orbit significantly farther out than the traditional limits of the HZ: or else, if it were orbiting within the life-bearing, region. it would require a minimum magnetic field ranging from a few G to up to a few thousand G.

AB - Recent results showed that the magnetic' field of M-dwarf RIM) stars, currently the main targets in searches for terrestrial planets is very different from the solar one, both in topology as well as in intensity. In particular, the magnetised environment surrounding a planet orbiting in the habitable zone (HZ) of dAl stars can differ substantially to the one encountered around the Earth. These extreme magnetic fields can compress planetary magnetospheres to such an extent that a significant fraction of the planet's atmosphere may be exposed to erosion by the stellar wind. Using observed surface magnetic amps for a sample of 15 (DJ stars, we investigate the minimum degree of planetary magnetospheric compression caused by the intense stellar magnetic fields. We show that hypothetical Earth-like planets with similar terrestrial magnetisation (-1 G) orbiting at the inner (outer) edge of the HZ of these stars would present magnetospheres that extend at most up to 6.1 (11.7) planetary radii. To be able to sustain an Earth-sized magnetosphere, the terrestrial planet would either need to orbit significantly farther out than the traditional limits of the HZ: or else, if it were orbiting within the life-bearing, region. it would require a minimum magnetic field ranging from a few G to up to a few thousand G.

KW - stars: magnetic fields

KW - stars: planetary systems

KW - stars: rotation. astrobiologs

UR - http://admin.cambridge.org/academic/subjects/physics/astrophysics/magnetic-fields-throughout-stellar-evolution-iau-s302#A1zSfYWpwgpdQPrB.97

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9781107044982

T3 - IAU Symposium Proceedings Series

SP - 237

EP - 238

BT - Magnetic fields throughout stellar evolution

A2 - Petit, Pascal

A2 - Jardine, Moira

A2 - Spruit, Hendrik

PB - Cambridge University Press

CY - Cambridge

ER -

Vidotto AA, Jardine M, Morin J, Donati JF, Lang P, Russell AJB. Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars. In Petit P, Jardine M, Spruit H, editors, Magnetic fields throughout stellar evolution: Proceedings of the international Astronomical Union Symposia and Colloquia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2014. p. 237-238. (IAU Symposium Proceedings Series).

Planetary protection in the extreme environments of low-mass stars

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