2024/05/08 by Daniel Thorngren, Thorngren, Daniel P. · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2405.05307
openalex publication_date 2024/05/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The extremely close proximity of hot Jupiters to their parent stars has dramatically affected both their atmospheres and interiors, inflating them to up to twice the radius of Jupiter. The physical mechanism responsible for this inflation remains unknown, though many proposals have been put forward. I will review the known hot Jupiter population, the proposed inflation mechanisms, and the evidence for and against them collected thus far. In doing so, I will cover the ways that hot Jupiter interiors may be simulated computationally in detail, and present some useful formulas for estimating their radii, heating, intrinsic temperature, and tentative magnetic field strength. I will also cover the related issues of hot Jupiter intrinsic temperatures and radiative-convective boundaries, the potential connection with planetary magnetic fields, and the effects of stellar tides on the planet. Finally, I conclude with the suggestion that more than one mechanism may be operating in concert with each other and propose various avenues for future progress in understanding these objects.