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Evolution of magnetic protection in potentially habitable terrestrial planets | | Jorge I. Zuluaga
; Pablo A. Cuartas
; Jaime H. Hoyos
; | | Date: |
2 Apr 2012 | | Abstract: | We present a model for the evolution of the magnetic properties of habitable
terrestrial planets and their effects on the protection of planetary atmosphere
against the erosive action of stellar wind. Using up-to-date thermal evolution
models and dynamo scaling laws we predict the evolution of the planetary dipole
moment as a function of planetary mass and rotation rate. Combining these
results with models for the evolution of the stellar wind, stellar XUV fluxes
and planetary exosphere characteristics, we determine the properties of the
magnetosphere and the exobase radius in order to estimate the level of
atmospheric mass losses. We use this model to evaluate the magnetic protection
of the potentially habitable super-Earths GJ 667Cc, Gl 581d and HD 85512b. We
confirm that Earth-like planets, even under the highest attainable magnetic
field strengths, will lose a significant fraction of their atmospheric
volatiles if they are tidally locked in the habitable zone of dM stars, or even
if having N/O-rich atmospheres they are in habitable zones closer than $sim$
0.8 AU. Similar mass-dependent inner limits have been found for super-Earths
$M_pgtrsim 3 M_oplus$ that in any case seem to have better chances of
preserving their atmospheres even if they are tidally locked. We predict that
the atmosphere of GJ 667Cc has probably already been obliterated and it is
presently uninhabitable. On the other hand, our model predicts that the
atmospheres of Gl 581d and HD 85512b would be well protected by intrinsic
magnetic fields, even under the worst expected conditions of stellar
aggression. (abrigded abstract). | | Source: | arXiv, 1204.0275 | | Services: | Forum | Review | PDF | Favorites | |
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