Energetic neutral atoms as the explanation for the high-velocity hydrogen around HD 209458b

M. Holmström (), A. Ekenbäck, F. Selsis, T. Penz, H. Lammer and P. Wurz
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M. Holmström: Swedish Institute of Space Physics, PO Box 812, SE-98128 Kiruna, Sweden
A. Ekenbäck: Swedish Institute of Space Physics, PO Box 812, SE-98128 Kiruna, Sweden
F. Selsis: Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (CNRS, Université Bordeaux 1), BP 89, F-33270 Floirac, France
T. Penz: INAF—Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, Piazza del Parlamento 1, I-90134 Palermo, Italy
H. Lammer: Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Schmiedlstrasse 6, A-8042 Graz, Austria
P. Wurz: Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland

Nature, 2008, vol. 451, issue 7181, 970-972

Abstract: Hydrogen at speed The extrasolar planet HD 209458b is surrounded by a vast cloud of atomic hydrogen, covering a region larger than the stellar disk. A spectral line observed when the planet passed in front of its host star revealed the presence of high-velocity atomic hydrogen a great distance away from the planet, and this was interpreted as hydrogen atoms escaping from the planet's exosphere and being accelerated by stellar radiation pressure. Starting from the fact that energetic neutral atoms are seen in the Solar System wherever energetic ions from the solar wind encounter a neutral planetary atmosphere, Holmström et al. have developed an alternative model. In this, stellar wind particles pick up electrons from neutral hydrogen in the planet's exosphere to generate energetic neutral atoms.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature06600

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