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Simulating the space weather in the AU Mic system: stellar winds and extreme coronal mass ejections

  • Two close-in planets have been recently found around the M-dwarf flare star AU Microscopii (AU Mic). These Neptune-sized planets (AU Mic b and c) seem to be located very close to the so-called "evaporation valley" in the exoplanet population, making this system an important target for studying atmospheric loss on exoplanets. This process, while mainly driven by high-energy stellar radiation, will be strongly mediated by the space environment surrounding the planets. Here we present an investigation of this last area, performing 3D numerical modeling of the quiescent stellar wind from AU Mic, as well as time-dependent simulations describing the evolution of a highly energetic coronal mass ejection (CME) event in this system. Observational constraints on the stellar magnetic field and properties of the eruption are incorporated in our models. We carry out qualitative and quantitative characterizations of the stellar wind, the emerging CMEs, as well as the expected steady and transient conditions along the orbit of both exoplanets. OurTwo close-in planets have been recently found around the M-dwarf flare star AU Microscopii (AU Mic). These Neptune-sized planets (AU Mic b and c) seem to be located very close to the so-called "evaporation valley" in the exoplanet population, making this system an important target for studying atmospheric loss on exoplanets. This process, while mainly driven by high-energy stellar radiation, will be strongly mediated by the space environment surrounding the planets. Here we present an investigation of this last area, performing 3D numerical modeling of the quiescent stellar wind from AU Mic, as well as time-dependent simulations describing the evolution of a highly energetic coronal mass ejection (CME) event in this system. Observational constraints on the stellar magnetic field and properties of the eruption are incorporated in our models. We carry out qualitative and quantitative characterizations of the stellar wind, the emerging CMEs, as well as the expected steady and transient conditions along the orbit of both exoplanets. Our results predict extreme space weather for AU Mic and its planets. This includes sub-Alfvenic regions for the large majority of the exoplanet orbits, very high dynamic and magnetic pressure values in quiescence (varying within 10(2)-10(5) times the dynamic pressure experienced by Earth), and an even harsher environment during the passage of any escaping CME associated with the frequent flaring observed in AU Mic. These space weather conditions alone pose an immense challenge for the survival of exoplanetary atmospheres (if any) in this system.show moreshow less

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Author details:Julián D. Alvarado-GómezORCiD, Ofer CohenORCiD, Jeremy J. DrakeORCiD, Federico FraschettiORCiD, Katja PoppenhägerORCiDGND, Cecilia GarraffoORCiD, Judy CheblyORCiD, Ekaterina IlinORCiDGND, Laura HarbachORCiD, Oleg KochukhovORCiD
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac54b8
ISSN:0004-637X
ISSN:1538-4357
Title of parent work (English):Astrophysical journal
Publisher:IOP Publishing
Place of publishing:Bristol
Publication type:Article
Language:English
Date of first publication:2022/04/04
Publication year:2022
Release date:2024/06/24
Volume:928
Issue:2
Article number:147
Number of pages:12
Funding institution:NASA [NAS8-03060, NNX16AC11G]; NASA NExSS grant [NNX15AE05G]; NASA under; Chandra Theory Award [TM0 - 21001X, TM6 - 17001A]; German Leibniz; Gemeinschaft [P67-2018]; European Research Council (ERC) under the; European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation program [853022]
Organizational units:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Physik und Astronomie
DDC classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 52 Astronomie / 520 Astronomie und zugeordnete Wissenschaften
Peer review:Referiert
Publishing method:Open Access / Gold Open-Access
License (German):License LogoCC-BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International
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