Open AccessDynamical relaxation and the orbits of low‐mass extrasolar planets
Author(s) -
Terquem Caroline,
Papaloizou John C. B.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05493.x
Subject(s) - physics , planet , exoplanet , planetary system , planetary mass , astronomy , planetary migration , astrophysics , orbit (dynamics) , eccentricity (behavior) , circular orbit , outer planets , population , astrobiology , demography , sociology , political science , law , engineering , aerospace engineering
We consider the evolution of a system containing a population of massive planets formed rapidly through a fragmentation process occurring on a scale on the order of 100 au and a lower mass planet that assembles in a disc on a much longer time‐scale. During the formation phase, the inner planet is kept on a circular orbit owing to tidal interaction with the disc, while the outer planets undergo dynamical relaxation. Interaction with the massive planets left in the system after the inner planet forms may increase the eccentricity of the inner orbit to high values, producing systems similar to those observed.