Examining the evidence for Chthonian planets : superdense exposed exoplanet cores
Name
1120771879-MIT.pdf
Size
4.9 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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Author(s)
Bates-Tarasewicz, Haley.
Advisor(s)
Benjamin Weiss.
Alternative Title
Superdense exposed exoplanet cores
Date Issued
2019
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Planetary cores are of interest because they provide insight into the internal dynamics and composition of planets. By using mass-radius relationship compositional analysis, this work originally set out to look for evidence of exoplanet exposed iron cores; it stumbled, however, upon potential superdense core candidates (or "Chthonian" cores). We identify 19 potential superdense core candidates, and compare them to the Fossilized Core Theory and the Giant Impact Theory of formation. Additionally, while there are 19 superdense core candidates, they represent only 11 solar systems. We find that both theories plausibly describe the formation of these superdense candidates, and note that all candidates have very typical stars similar to our own sun. Until the mass measurements of the candidates are better constrained, further conclusions cannot be drawn, however, this new type of planet could help inform planetary formation, evolution, and interior dynamic models.
Description
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2019
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 24-30).
Subjects
Aeronautics and Astronautics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Terms of Use
MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.
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