Tidal evolution of a secularly interacting planetary system

Richard Greenberg, Christa Van Laerhoven

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

In a multi-planet system, a gradual change in one planet's semimajor axis will affect the eccentricities of all the planets, as angular momentum is distributed via secular interactions. If tidal dissipation in the planet is the cause of the change in semimajor axis, it also damps that planet's eccentricity, which in turn also contributes to the evolution of all the eccentricities. Formulae quantifying the combined effects on the whole system due to semimajor axis changes, as well as eccentricity damping, are derived here for a two-planet system. The CoRoT 7 system is considered as an example.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number8
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume733
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 20 2011

Keywords

  • celestial mechanics
  • planet-star interactions
  • planetary systems
  • planets and satellites: dynamical evolution and stability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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