Planet core mass drives atmospheric loss through photo-evaporation
In short: Researchers using models of the Kepler-36 system found that a planet's internal rock and iron core mass is a primary driver of atmospheric loss. While planets may receive similar levels of radiation from their stars, those with different core masses experience vastly different rates of photo-evaporation, leading to significant differences in their final densities.
By simulating coupled thermal evolution and mass loss, the study shows how core mass influences whether a planet retains its atmosphere. The researchers used these models to predict that larger planets become less common on very short orbits. A limitation is that the findings are based on theoretical models and simulated evolutionary runs.
Why it matters: A planet's internal heavy-element core acts as a key regulator for how much atmosphere it can retain.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Lopez and Fortney (2013). THE ROLE OF CORE MASS IN CONTROLLING EVAPORATION: THE KEPLER RADIUS DISTRIBUTION AND THE KEPLER-36 DENSITY DICHOTOMY. The Astrophysical Journal.
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