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The Hottest Hot Jupiters May Host Atmospheric Dynamos

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Tamara Rogers

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This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd., 2017.

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Abstract

Hot Jupiters have proven themselves to be a rich class of exoplanets which test our theories of planetary evolution and atmospheric dynamics under extreme conditions. Here, we present three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations and analytic results which demonstrate that a dynamo can be maintained in the thin, stably-stratified atmosphere of a hot Jupiter, independent of the presumed deep-seated dynamo. This dynamo is maintained by conductivity variations arising from strong asymmetric heating from the planets' host star. The presence of a dynamo significantly increases the surface magnetic field strength and alters the overall planetary magnetic field geometry, possibly affecting star-planet magnetic interactions.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Rogers T, McElwaine JN

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: The Astrophysical Journal Letters

Year: 2017

Volume: 841

Issue: 2

Print publication date: 01/06/2017

Online publication date: 26/05/2017

Acceptance date: 12/05/2017

Date deposited: 16/06/2017

ISSN (print): 2041-8205

ISSN (electronic): 2041-8213

Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.

URL: https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa72da

DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/aa72da

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