Constraining planet structure and composition from stellar chemistry: trends in different stellar populations

Santos, N. C.; Adibekyan, V.; Dorn, C.; Mordasini, C.; Noack, L.; Barros, S. C. C.; Delgado-Mena, E.; Demangeon, O.; Faria, J. P.; Israelian, G.; Sousa, S. G.
Referencia bibliográfica

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 608, id.A94, 8 pp.

Fecha de publicación:
12
2017
Número de autores
11
Número de autores del IAC
1
Número de citas
66
Número de citas referidas
59
Descripción
Context. The chemical composition of stars that have orbiting planets provides important clues about the frequency, architecture, and composition of exoplanet systems. Aims: We explore the possibility that stars from different galactic populations that have different intrinsic abundance ratios may produce planets with a different overall composition. Methods: We compiled abundances for Fe, O, C, Mg, and Si in a large sample of solar neighbourhood stars that belong to different galactic populations. We then used a simple stoichiometric model to predict the expected iron-to-silicate mass fraction and water mass fraction of the planet building blocks, as well as the summed mass percentage of all heavy elements in the disc. Results: Assuming that overall the chemical composition of the planet building blocks will be reflected in the composition of the formed planets, we show that according to our model, discs around stars from different galactic populations, as well as around stars from different regions in the Galaxy, are expected to form rocky planets with significantly different iron-to-silicate mass fractions. The available water mass fraction also changes significantly from one galactic population to another. Conclusions: The results may be used to set constraints for models of planet formation and chemical composition. Furthermore, the results may have impact on our understanding of the frequency of planets in the Galaxy, as well as on the existence of conditions for habitability.
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Imagen del Proyecto
Pruebas Observacionales de los Procesos de Nucleosíntesis en el Universo
Recientemente se han llevado a cabo varios análisis espectroscópicos de estrellas con planetas. Uno de los resultados más relevantes ha sido descubrir que las estrellas con planetas son en promedio más metálicas que las estrellas del mismo tipo espectral sin planetas conocidos (Santos, Israelian & Mayor 2001, A&A, 373, 1019; 2004, A&A, 415, 1153)
Garik
Israelian