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Kristina Kislyakova

Publications and source records attributed to Kristina Kislyakova.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Self-consistent 1D modelling of Jupiter's upper atmosphere as an exoplanet analogue

Jupiter's upper atmosphere provides a real-world laboratory for validating first-principles models of giant gaseous exoplanets and for constraining the key physical processes that govern them. We extended the 1D first-principles thermo-chemical planetary upper atmosphere model Kompot to simulate hydrogen-rich atmospheres of giant exoplanets and benchmarked it against the archetype giant planet Jupiter. We modelled a longitudinal and latitudinal average thermal and chemical profile of Jupiter's upper atmosphere by solving the equations of energy balance, photochemical kinetics, hydrodynamics, and vertical transport in a 1D radial atmospheric grid. The thermal properties of the upper atmosphere were determined by a balance between heating from solar X-ray and ultraviolet (XUV), and infrared (IR) radiation, thermal conduction, Joule heating, and radiative cooling due to H3+ and CH4. The model results were compared with Jupiter observations from Galileo, JUNO, and other instruments. The simulation results were also used as input in the radiative transfer module of the TauREx code to simulate Jupiter's infrared transmission spectrum. Our model reproduces Jupiter's observed upper-atmospheric thermal structure and observed CH4 volume mixing ratios. The chemical abundances of other gases also exhibit strong agreement with observations and existing photochemical models. Heating and cooling results show that Joule heating is the dominant heating source throughout most of the upper atmosphere. The transmission spectrum indicates the rich presence of CH4 in the near- and mid-IR wavelength ranges. Our physically consistent model framework for Jupiter's upper atmosphere provides a validated baseline for future self-consistent simulations of the thermal and chemical structure of a diverse population of hydrogen-rich exoplanet atmospheres.

astro-ph.EP

Star Planet Interactions

Star-planet interactions (SPIs) describe the continuous exchange of energy, momentum, and mass between exoplanets and their host stars through radiative, tidal, magnetic, and particle-driven processes. Together, these interactions shape the structure, evolution, and observable properties of exoplanetary systems. In this review, we bring together current theoretical and observational understanding of SPIs, highlighting how stellar radiation, winds, and magnetic activity influence planetary atmospheres, interiors, and orbital evolution, while using the Solar System as a valuable reference for interpreting these processes. High-energy stellar radiation, particularly in the far- and extreme-ultraviolet and X-ray bands, drives atmospheric heating, photochemistry, ionisation, and escape. These effects are further influenced by stellar winds and magnetic interactions, which can either protect planetary atmospheres or accelerate their loss over time. Tidal interactions redistribute energy and angular momentum, producing internal heating and driving orbital migration and circularisation. Magnetic star-planet coupling provides additional pathways for energy transfer through reconnection and current systems, potentially enhancing atmospheric escape, heating planetary ionospheres and interiors, and generating observable signatures such as radio emission and enhanced stellar activity. We discuss how these processes work together, emphasising that their long-term impact depends on stellar evolution, planetary properties, atmospheric structure, and magnetic field strength. By presenting radiative, tidal, and magnetic interactions within a unified framework, this review highlights the physical mechanisms that shape planetary environments and identifies the key observational signatures that will complement future studies of exoplanet evolution and habitability.

astro-ph.SR

Induction Heating in Super-Earths: A Thermochemical Perspective

Electromagnetic induction heating has recently been proposed as an important internal heat source in the mantles of rocky exoplanets. However, its dependence on planetary interior properties remains poorly constrained. Here we construct electrical conductivity profiles for super-Earth mantles considering different temperatures and compositions, and evaluate induction heating in super-Earth mantles in both solid and partially molten states. We find that high mantle temperature, iron content, and melt fraction all suppress the overall induction heating efficiency due to increased mantle conductivity and magnetic shielding. In GJ 486b, induction heating likely exceeds both radiogenic heating and tidal heating, driving persistent surface volcanism and early volatile depletion, whereas HD 3167b and GJ 357b experience insignificant induction heating due to weak stellar magnetic fields. Our findings highlight induction heating as a critical factor in the thermal and atmospheric evolution of close-in super-Earths around magnetically active stars.

astro-ph.EP

Habitable Zone and Atmosphere Retention Distance (HaZARD) Stellar-evolution-dependent loss models of secondary atmospheres

A major open question in exoplanet research is whether secondary atmospheres are rare around Earth-sized rocky exoplanets. In this work we determine the distance at which an Earth-sized planet orbiting a variety of stellar hosts could retain a CO2- or N2-dominated atmosphere and compare this atmospheric retention distance (ARD) with that of the liquid-water HZ. We combined planetary atmosphere models with stellar evolution models. The atmospheric models produced by the thermochemical Kompot code allowed us to calculate the Jeans escape rates for different stellar masses, rotation rates, and ages. These loss rates allowed us to determine the closest distance a planet is likely to retain a CO2- or N2-dominated atmosphere. Using stellar rotation evolution models, we modelled how these retention distances evolve as the X-ray and ultraviolet activity of the star evolves. We find that the overlap of the HZ and the ARD occurs earlier around slowly rotating stars. Additionally, we find that HZ planets orbiting stars with masses under 0.4 M_\odot are unlikely to retain any atmosphere, due to the lower spin-down rate of these fully convective stars. We also show that the initial rotation rate of the star can impact the likelihood of a planet retaining an atmosphere, as an initially fast-rotating star maintains high levels of short-wavelength irradiance for much longer. The orbits of all Earth-like rocky exoplanets observed by JWST in cycles 1 and 2, including HZ planets, fall outside the ARD. Our results will have implications for future target selections of small exoplanet observing programmes with JWST or future instruments such as the Ariel space mission.

astro-ph.EP

Airy worlds or barren rocks? On the survivability of secondary atmospheres around the TRAPPIST-1 planets

In this work we aim to determine the atmospheric survivability of the TRAPPIST-1 planets by modelling the response of the upper atmosphere to incoming stellar high-energy radiation. Through this case study, we also aim to learn more about rocky planet atmospheres in the habitable zone around low-mass M dwarfs. We simulated the upper atmospheres using the Kompot code, a self-consistent thermo-chemical code. Specifically, we studied the atmospheric mass loss due to Jeans escape induced by stellar high-energy radiation. This was achieved through a grid of models that account for the differences in planetary properties, irradiances, and atmospheric properties, allowing the exploration of the different factors influencing atmospheric loss. The present-day irradiance of the TRAPPIST-1 planets would lead to the loss of an Earth's atmosphere within just some 100 Myr. Taking into account the much more active early stages of a low-mass M dwarf, the planets undergo a period of even more extreme mass loss, regardless of planetary mass or atmospheric composition. This indicates that it is unlikely that any significant atmosphere could survive for any extended amount of time around any of the TRAPPIST-1 planets. The assumptions used here allow us to generalise the results, and we conclude that the results tentatively indicate that this conclusion applies to all Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of low-mass M dwarfs.

astro-ph.EP

Electromagnetic induction heating as a driver of volcanic activity on massive rocky planets

Aims. We investigate possible driving mechanisms of volcanic activity on rocky super-Earths with masses exceeding 3-4 Mearth. Due to high gravity and pressures in the mantles of these planets, melting in deep mantle layers can be suppressed, even if the energy releae due to tidal heating and radioactive decay is substantial. Here we investigate whether a newly identified heating mechanism, namely induction heating by the star's magnetic field, can drive volcanic activity on these planets due to its unique heating pattern in the very upper part of the mantle. In this region the pressure is not yet high enough to preclude the melt formation. Methods. Using the super-Earth HD 3167b as an example, we calculate induction heating in the planet's interiors assuming an electrical conductivity profile typical of a hot rocky planet and a moderate stellar magnetic field typical of an old inactive star. Then we use a mantle convection code (CHIC) to simulate the evolution of volcanic outgassing with time. Results. We show that although in most cases volcanic outgassing on HD 3167b is not very significant in the absence of induction heating, including this heating mechanism changes the picture and leads to a substantial increase in the outgassing from the planet's mantle. This result shows that induction heating combined with a high surface temperature is capable of driving volcanism on massive super-Earths, which has important observational implications.

astro-ph.EP

A grid of upper atmosphere models for 1--40 MEARTH planets: application to CoRoT-7 b and HD219134 b,c

There is growing observational and theoretical evidence suggesting that atmospheric escape is a key driver of planetary evolution. Commonly, planetary evolution models employ simple analytic formulae (e.g., energy limited escape) that are often inaccurate, and more detailed physical models of atmospheric loss usually only give snapshots of an atmosphere's structure and are difficult to use for evolutionary studies. To overcome this problem, we upgrade and employ an already existing upper atmosphere hydrodynamic code to produce a large grid of about 7000 models covering planets with masses 1 - 39 Earth mass with hydrogen-dominated atmospheres and orbiting late-type stars. The modeled planets have equilibrium temperatures ranging between 300 and 2000 K. For each considered stellar mass, we account for three different values of the high-energy stellar flux (i.e., low, moderate, and high activity). For each computed model, we derive the atmospheric temperature, number density, bulk velocity, X-ray and EUV (XUV) volume heating rates, and abundance of the considered species as a function of distance from the planetary center. From these quantities, we estimate the positions of the maximum dissociation and ionisation, the mass-loss rate, and the effective radius of the XUV absorption. We show that our results are in good agreement with previously published studies employing similar codes. We further present an interpolation routine capable to extract the modelling output parameters for any planet lying within the grid boundaries. We use the grid to identify the connection between the system parameters and the resulting atmospheric properties. We finally apply the grid and the interpolation routine to estimate atmospheric evolutionary tracks for the close-in, high-density planets CoRoT-7 b and HD219134 b,c...

astro-ph.EP

Exocomets in the Proxima Centauri system and their importance for water transport

The scenario and efficiency of water transport by icy asteroids and comets are still amongst the most important unresolved questions of planetary systems. A better understanding of cometary dynamics in extrasolar systems shall provide information about cometary reservoirs and give an insight into water transport especially to planets in the habitable zone. The detection of Proxima Centauri-b (PCb), which moves in the habitable zone of this system, triggered a debate whether or not this planet can be habitable. In this work, we focus on the stability of an additional planet in the system and on water transport by minor bodies. We perform numerous N-body simulations with PCb and an outer Oort-cloud like reservoir of comets. We investigate close encounters and collisions with the planet, which are important for the transport of water. Observers found hints for a second planet with a period longer than 60 days. Our dynamical studies show that two planets in this system are stable even for a more massive second planet (~12 Earth masses). Furthermore, we perform simulations including exocomets, a second planet, and the influence of the binary Alpha Centauri. The studies on the dynamics of exocomets reveal that the outer limit for water transport is around 200 au. In addition we show that water transport would be possible from a close-in planetesimal cloud (1-4 au). From our simulations, based on typical M-star protoplanetary disks, we estimate the water mass delivered to the planets up to 51 Earth oceans.

astro-ph.EP

How Expanded Ionospheres of Hot Jupiters Can Prevent Escape of Radio Emission Generated by the Cyclotron Maser Instability

We present a study of plasma conditions in the atmospheres of the Hot Jupiters HD 209458b and HD 189733b and for an HD 209458b-like planet at orbit locations between 0.2-1 AU around a Sun-like star. We discuss how these conditions influence the radio emission we expect from their magnetospheres. We find that the environmental conditions are such that the cyclotron maser instability (CMI), the process responsible for the generation of radio waves at magnetic planets in the solar system, most likely will not operate at Hot Jupiters. Hydrodynamically expanding atmospheres possess extended ionospheres whose plasma densities within the magnetosphere are so large that the plasma frequency is much higher than the cyclotron frequency, which contradicts the condition for the production of radio emission and prevents the escape of radio waves from close-in exoplanets at distances <0.05 AU from a Sun-like host star. The upper atmosphere structure of gas giants around stars similar to the Sun changes between 0.2 and 0.5 AU from the hydrodynamic to a hydrostatic regime and this results in conditions similar to solar system planets with a region of depleted plasma between the exobase and the magnetopause where the plasma frequency can be lower than the cyclotron frequency. In such an environment, a beam of highly energetic electrons accelerated along the field lines towards the planet can produce radio emission. However, even if the CMI could operate the extended ionospheres of Hot Jupiters are too dense to let the radio emission escape from the planets.

astro-ph.EP