Secular Perturbations from Exterior Giants Strongly Influence Gap Complexity in Peas-in-a-pod Exoplanetary Systems
It has been demonstrated that systems of tightly packed inner planets with giant exterior companions tend to have less regular orbital spacings than those without such companions. We investigate whether this observed increase in the gap complexity of the inner systems can be explained solely as the...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada28b |
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| author | Joseph R. Livesey Juliette Becker |
| author_facet | Joseph R. Livesey Juliette Becker |
| author_sort | Joseph R. Livesey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It has been demonstrated that systems of tightly packed inner planets with giant exterior companions tend to have less regular orbital spacings than those without such companions. We investigate whether this observed increase in the gap complexity of the inner systems can be explained solely as the result of secular dynamics caused by the disturbing potential of the exterior companions. Amplification of mutual orbital inclinations in the inner system due to such secular dynamics may lead to the inner system attaining nonmutually transiting geometries, thereby creating artificial observed gaps that result in a higher calculated gap complexity. Using second-order secular theory, we compute time-averaged observed gap complexities along a favorable line of sight for a set of hypothetical systems, both with and without an outer giant. We find that these secular interactions can significantly contribute to the observed gap complexity dichotomy in tightly packed multiple-planet systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-72513dc4c8af4e5f8d06ba03f61d374d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-72513dc4c8af4e5f8d06ba03f61d374d2025-01-29T08:53:40ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01979220210.3847/1538-4357/ada28bSecular Perturbations from Exterior Giants Strongly Influence Gap Complexity in Peas-in-a-pod Exoplanetary SystemsJoseph R. Livesey0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3888-3753Juliette Becker1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7733-4522Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin–Madison , Madison, WI 53706, USA ; jrlivesey@wisc.eduDepartment of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin–Madison , Madison, WI 53706, USA ; jrlivesey@wisc.eduIt has been demonstrated that systems of tightly packed inner planets with giant exterior companions tend to have less regular orbital spacings than those without such companions. We investigate whether this observed increase in the gap complexity of the inner systems can be explained solely as the result of secular dynamics caused by the disturbing potential of the exterior companions. Amplification of mutual orbital inclinations in the inner system due to such secular dynamics may lead to the inner system attaining nonmutually transiting geometries, thereby creating artificial observed gaps that result in a higher calculated gap complexity. Using second-order secular theory, we compute time-averaged observed gap complexities along a favorable line of sight for a set of hypothetical systems, both with and without an outer giant. We find that these secular interactions can significantly contribute to the observed gap complexity dichotomy in tightly packed multiple-planet systems.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada28bExoplanet detection methodsExoplanet dynamicsPlanetary system formationPlanetary system evolution |
| spellingShingle | Joseph R. Livesey Juliette Becker Secular Perturbations from Exterior Giants Strongly Influence Gap Complexity in Peas-in-a-pod Exoplanetary Systems The Astrophysical Journal Exoplanet detection methods Exoplanet dynamics Planetary system formation Planetary system evolution |
| title | Secular Perturbations from Exterior Giants Strongly Influence Gap Complexity in Peas-in-a-pod Exoplanetary Systems |
| title_full | Secular Perturbations from Exterior Giants Strongly Influence Gap Complexity in Peas-in-a-pod Exoplanetary Systems |
| title_fullStr | Secular Perturbations from Exterior Giants Strongly Influence Gap Complexity in Peas-in-a-pod Exoplanetary Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Secular Perturbations from Exterior Giants Strongly Influence Gap Complexity in Peas-in-a-pod Exoplanetary Systems |
| title_short | Secular Perturbations from Exterior Giants Strongly Influence Gap Complexity in Peas-in-a-pod Exoplanetary Systems |
| title_sort | secular perturbations from exterior giants strongly influence gap complexity in peas in a pod exoplanetary systems |
| topic | Exoplanet detection methods Exoplanet dynamics Planetary system formation Planetary system evolution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada28b |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josephrlivesey secularperturbationsfromexteriorgiantsstronglyinfluencegapcomplexityinpeasinapodexoplanetarysystems AT juliettebecker secularperturbationsfromexteriorgiantsstronglyinfluencegapcomplexityinpeasinapodexoplanetarysystems |