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arXiv · 1508.00880

Planetary Evaporation and the Dynamics of Planet Wind/Stellar Wind Bow Shocks

A. Frank·B. Liu·J. Carroll-Nellenback·A. C. Quillen·J. F. Kasting·I. Dobbs-Dixon·E. G. Blackman
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Abstract

We present initial results of a new campaign of simulations focusing on the interaction of planetary winds with stellar environments using Adaptive Mesh Refinement methods. We have confirmed the results of Stone & Proga 2009 that an azimuthal flow structure is created in the planetary wind due to day/night temperatures differences. We show that a backflow towards the planet will occur with a strength that depends on the escape parameter. When a stellar outflow is included, we see unstable bow waves forming through the outflow's interaction with the planetary wind.

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A. Frank, B. Liu, J. Carroll-Nellenback, A. C. Quillen, J. F. Kasting, I. Dobbs-Dixon, E. G. Blackman. 2015-08-04. Planetary Evaporation and the Dynamics of Planet Wind/Stellar Wind Bow Shocks. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1743921315006675

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