ON THE TIDAL DISSIPATION OF OBLIQUITY

Journal Article · Mon May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/769/1/L10· OSTI ID:22130639

Rogers, T. M. ^[1]; Lin, D. N. C., ^[2]

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1. Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719 (United States)
2. Astronomy and Astrophysics Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (United States)

We investigate tidal dissipation of obliquity in hot Jupiters. Assuming an initial random orientation of obliquity and parameters relevant to the observed population, the obliquity of hot Jupiters does not evolve to purely aligned systems. In fact, the obliquity evolves to either prograde, retrograde, or 90 Degree-Sign orbits where the torque due to tidal perturbations vanishes. This distribution is incompatible with observations which show that hot Jupiters around cool stars are generally aligned. This calls into question the viability of tidal dissipation as the mechanism for obliquity alignment of hot Jupiters around cool stars.

• OSTI ID: 22130639
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 769; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ALIGNMENT
DISTRIBUTION
DISTURBANCES
INTERACTIONS
JUPITER PLANET
PERTURBATION THEORY
RANDOMNESS
SATELLITES
STABILITY
STARS
TORQUE