The Origin of the Galaxy's Most Common Planets Around its Most Common Stars


Ryan Cloutier


Assistant Professor at McMaster's University



Is the M dwarf radius valley a direct result of planet formation, or does it require a thermally driven atmospheric escape process to be explained? I will highlight three recent lines of observational evidence that suggest that, unlike around Sun-like stars, the M dwarf radius valley is a likely product of the planet formation process itself. That is despite the fact that M dwarfs exhibit extended phases of elevated XUV activity and flares during their young, which should efficiently drive hydrodynamic escape of planetary atmospheres. These results indicate that sub-Neptunes around M dwarfs likely formed beyond the snow line with water-rich compositions and are not (in most cases) enveloped in primordial H/He gas. Lien Zoom: https://umontreal.zoom.us/j/81074282130?pwd=WnpyditkLzlHT0d5Ym41b1Y5UVB2UT09 MDP: 131292

Date: Jeudi, le 17 novembre 2022
Heure: 11:30
Lieu: Université de Montréal
  Pavillon MIL A-3541