A dynamical test for terrestrial planets in the habitable zone of HD 204313

E. Thilliez; L. Jouvin; S. T. Maddison; J. Horner

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arXiv · 1402.2728

A dynamical test for terrestrial planets in the habitable zone of HD 204313

E. Thilliez·L. Jouvin·S. T. Maddison·J. Horner

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Abstract

With improvements in exoplanet detection techniques, the number of multiple planet systems discovered is increasing, while the detection of potentially habitable Earth-mass planets remains complicated and thus requires new search strategies. Dynamical studies of known multiple planet systems are therefore a vital tool in the search for stable and habitable planet candidates. Here, we present a dynamical study of the three-planet system HD 204313 to determine whether it could harbour an Earth-like planet within its habitable zone for a sufficient time to develop life. We found two semi-stable regions in the system, but neither prove stable for long enough for a terrestrial planet to develop life. Our investigations suggest that overlapping weak and high order resonances may be responsible for these semi-stable regions. This study established a framework for a larger project that will study the dynamical stability of the habitable zone of multiple planet systems, providing a list of interesting targets for future habitable low-mass planet searches.

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E. Thilliez, L. Jouvin, S. T. Maddison, J. Horner. 2014-02-12. A dynamical test for terrestrial planets in the habitable zone of HD 204313. https://arxiv.org/abs/1402.2728

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