Multi-planet extrasolar systems - detection and dynamics

• Published in: Research in astronomy and astrophysics 2012-08, Vol.12 (8), p.1044-1080
• Main Author: Cristian Beauge Sylvio Ferraz-Mello Tatiana A. Michtchenko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hamilton函数; 动力配置; 太阳系外; 引力相互作用; 检测技术; 系外行星; 行星系统; 行星轨道
• ISSN: 1674-4527; 2397-6209
• DOI: 10.1088/1674-4527/12/8/009

20 years after the discovery of the first planets outside our solar system, the current exoplanetary population includes more than 700 confirmed planets around main sequence stars. Approximately 50% belong to multiple-planet systems in very diverse dynamical configurations, from two-planet hierarchical systems to multiple resonances that could only have been attained as the consequence of a smooth large- scale orbital migration. The first part of this paper reviews the main detection tech- niques employed for the detection and orbital characterization of multiple-planet sys- tems, from the （now） classical radial velocity （RV） method to the use of transit time variations （TTV） for the identification of additional planetary bodies orbiting the same star. In the second part we discuss the dynamical evolution of multi-planet systems due to their mutual gravitational interactions. We analyze possible modes of motion for hi- erarchical, secular or resonant configurations, and what stability criteria can be defined in each case. In some cases, the dynamics can be well approximated by simple ana- lytical expressions for the Hamiltonian function, while other configurations can only be studied with semi-analytical or numerical tools. In particular, we show how mean- motion resonances can generate complex structures in the phase space where different libration islands and circulation domains are separated by chaotic layers. In all cases we use real exoplanetary systems as working examples.