* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: HD 181433

Blobrana · L

Title: Possible scenarios for eccentricity evolution in the extrasolar planetary system HD 181433
Authors: Giammarco Campanella, Richard P. Nelson, Craig B. Agnor

We analyse the dynamics of the multiple planet system HD 181433. This consists of two gas giant planets (c and d) with msin i = 0.65 Jupiter masses and 0.53 Jupiter masses orbiting with periods 975 and 2468 days, respectively. The two planets appear to be in a 5:2 mean motion resonance, as this is required for the system to be dynamically stable. A third planet with mass m_b sin i = 0.023 Jupiter masses orbits close to the star with orbital period 9.37 days. Each planet orbit is significantly eccentric, with current values estimated to be e_b = 0.39, e_c = 0.27 and e_d = 0.47. In this paper we assess different scenarios that may explain the origin of these eccentric orbits, with particular focus on the innermost body, noting that the large eccentricity of planet b cannot be explained through secular interaction with the outer pair. We consider a scenario in which the system previously contained an additional giant planet that was ejected during a period of dynamical instability among the planets. N-body simulations are presented that demonstrate that during scattering and ejection among the outer planets a close encounter between a giant and the inner body can raise e_b to its observed value. We consider the possibility that an undetected planet in the system increases the secular forcing of planet b by the exterior giant planets, but we find that the resulting eccentricity is not large enough to agree with the observed one. We also consider a scenario in which the spin-down of the central star causes the system to pass through secular resonance. Spin-down rates below the critical value lead to longterm capture of planet b in secular resonance, driving the eccentricity toward unity. If additional short-period low mass planets are present in the system, however, we find that mutual scattering can release planet b from the secular resonance, leading to a system with orbital parameters similar to those observed today.

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Blobrana · L

Title: Treating dynamical stability as an observable: a 5:2 MMR configuration for the extrasolar system HD 181433
Authors: Giammarco Campanella

The three-planet extrasolar system of HD 181433 has been detected with HARPS. The best-fit solution, announced by the discovery team, describes a highly unstable, self-disrupting configuration. In fact, a narrow observational window, only partially covering the longest orbital period, can lead to solutions representing unrealistic scenarios. Taking into account the dynamical stability as an additional observable while interpreting the RV data, we can analyse the phase space in a neighbourhood of the statistically best-fit and derive dynamically stable configurations that reproduce the observed RV signal. Our Newtonian stable best-fit model is capable of surviving for at least 250 Myrs. The two giant companions are found to be locked in the 5:2 MMR as Jupiter and Saturn in the Solar System. This mechanism does not allow close encounters even in case of highly eccentric orbits. Moreover, planets c and d are located in regions spanned by many other strong low-order MMRs. We study the dynamics of some plausible scenarios and we illustrate the behaviours caused by secular apsidal resonances and mean motion resonances. Furthermore, we find a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone of HD 181433 can retain stability. Apart from filling an empty gap in the system, this body could offer a harbour for life indeed. Additional measurements are necessary in order to investigate this hypothesis and can confirm the predictions outlined in the paper.

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Blobrana · L

HD 181433 b is an extrasolar planet approximately 87 light years away in the constellation Pavo. This planet has mass at least 7.56 times that of Earth, and with an orbital period of 6 Earth years.

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