Researchers from the University of Leicester have suggested that a vast young planet near a protostar undergoing severe evaporation may be the cause behind a stellar flare a trillion times more potent than the norm. This discovery could redefine our comprehension of star and planet formation.
The team from Leicester University has proposed a fresh interpretation for the 85-year flare of the star via new simulations.
The enigma of a stellar flare, a trillion times more potent than the most powerful solar flare, may have been unravelled by scientists who speculate that a vast young planet is incinerating in a highly-heated raw material whirlpool surrounding it.
The study was spearheaded by the University of Leicester and financially backed by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The researchers propose that a planet approximately ten times the size of Jupiter is experiencing ‘severe evaporation’ close to the budding star, with the raging heat pulling material from the planet and propelling it onto the star.
A simulation of the early stages demonstrates a ‘hot Jupiter’ planet being drawn too close to its star, beginning to evaporate and shedding its external layers into the nearby disc. The additional material intensifies the heat of the disc beyond pre-burst levels. Once the planet loses most of its mass, it is completely annihilated via a process known as ‘spaghettification,’ akin to the disruption of stars by supermassive black holes. This marks the end of the outburst.
The findings were published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society journal. The frequency of such flares in developing solar systems suggests that each could witness a dozen or so similar planet-eradicating events.
The research was centered around the protostar FU Ori, located 1,200 light years from our solar system. This star’s brightness had significantly increased 85 years ago and hasn’t returned to the usual luminosity.
While astronomers suggest that the rise in FU Ori’s brightness is due to an increase in material falling onto the protostar from a protoplanetary disc, a cloud of gas and dust, the specifics of this process remained enigmatic until now.
Lead author Professor Sergei Nayakshin from the University of Leicester School of Physics and Astronomy commented on the discovery of a new process, a ‘disc inferno,’ of young planets.
The Leicester-based researchers developed a simulation for FU Ori that involved a gas giant planet created out in the disc due to gravitational instability, resulting in massive disc fragments forming large clumps, more massive than Jupiter but much less dense.
The simulation displays how such a planetary seed quickly migrates toward its host star due to gravitational attraction. Upon reaching a distance equivalent to a tenth of the gap between Earth and our sun, the planet’s atmosphere outer layers are ignited due to the intense heat around the star. The planet then contributes substantial fresh material, leading to the star’s growth and increased brightness.
Dr. Vardan Elbakyan, also from Leicester and co-author of the study, added that while FU Ori events are extreme compared to normal young stars, observers have deduced that most emerging solar systems experience similar flares about a dozen times while the protoplanetary disc is present.
Professor Nayakshin stressed that their model might have substantial implications on our understanding of star and planet formation. He highlighted the chaotic and violent nature of protoplanetary discs, previously considered peaceful nurseries, where many young planets might be incinerated and consumed by their stars.
The next step is to determine whether other flaring stars can be explained through the same scenario.
The research was funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), a part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The findings were published in the journal “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society” on May 12, 2023.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about stellar flare
What did the University of Leicester discover?
The University of Leicester discovered that a massive young planet undergoing extreme evaporation near a protostar might explain a stellar flare a trillion times more powerful than usual.
How could this discovery reshape our understanding of star and planet formation?
The discovery of the young planet’s extreme evaporation and its role in causing a powerful stellar flare could provide new insights and reshape our understanding of how stars and planets form in the universe.
What fueled the stellar flare?
The researchers propose that the extreme evaporation of a planet, roughly ten times larger than Jupiter, near a growing star caused the flare. The planet’s material was torn off and flung onto the star, intensifying its brightness.
How did the researchers conduct their study?
The researchers used simulations to model the process. They created a simulation of a gas giant planet formed far out in a protoplanetary disc through gravitational instability, and then the planet migrated inwards towards its host star.
What implications could this discovery have?
The discovery suggests that protoplanetary discs, often considered nurseries of planets, may be violent and chaotic places where young planets can be consumed by their stars. This could have profound implications for our understanding of star and planet formation.
How frequent are such flares in developing solar systems?
The research indicates that each developing solar system could experience up to a dozen similar planet elimination events, shedding light on the prevalence of such phenomena in the universe.
Which star did the researchers focus on for their study?
The researchers focused their attention on the protostar FU Ori, located 1,200 light years from our solar system, which experienced a significant increase in brightness 85 years ago.
How was the research funded?
The research was financially supported by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), a part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
What is the significance of the published findings?
The researchers published their findings in the journal “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,” contributing valuable information to the field of astronomy and astrophysics.
More about stellar flare
- University of Leicester: University of Leicester
- UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC): STFC
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
