Interior Structure Models of Solid Exoplanets Using Material Laws in the Infinite Pressure Limit

F.W. Wagner (1, 2) , F. Sohl (1) , H. Hussmann (1) , M. Grott (1) , H. Rauer (1, 3)

1 DLR - German Aerospace Center
2 Institut für Planetologie [Münster]
3 TU - Technical University of Berlin / Technische Universität Berlin

► Structural models of solid exoplanet interiors are constructed using equations of state for the radial density distribution, which are compliant with the thermodynamics of the high-pressure limit. ► Trade-offs in predicted radii of terrestrial-type exoplanets of up to ten Earth masses fall well within current observational limits. ► Deep exoplanet interiors are likely hotter than previously thought because of the pressure-induced, less vigorous convective heat transfer at depth.

Mots clés: Super-Earths; Interior structure; Thermal state; Mass-radius relationships; High-pressure physics

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]

F.W. Wagner, F. Sohl, H. Hussmann, M. Grott, H. Rauer. Interior Structure Models of Solid Exoplanets Using Material Laws in the Infinite Pressure Limit. Icarus, 2011, 214 (2), pp.366. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2011.05.027⟩. ⟨hal-00786873⟩