Variability from Thermoresistive Instability in the Atmospheres of Hot Jupiters

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 940; no. 2; pp. 123 - 130
• Main Authors: Hardy, Raphaël, Cumming, Andrew, Charbonneau, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia The American Astronomical Society 01.12.2022; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Astrophysical fluid dynamics; Astrophysics; Atmosphere; Atmospheric dynamics; Atmospheric models; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Equatorial regions; Exoplanet atmospheric dynamics; Exoplanet atmospheric variability; Extrasolar planets; Fluid flow; Freezing; Gas giant planets; Heating; Instability; Jupiter; Magnetic fields; Magnetohydrodynamics; Planetary atmospheres; Reynolds number; Stability; Temperature; Temperature dependence; Wind speed; Wind velocities
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac9bfc

The atmosphere of a hot Jupiter may be subject to a thermoresistive instability, in which the increasing electrical conductivity with temperature leads to runaway ohmic heating. We introduce a simplified model of the local dynamics in the equatorial region of a hot Jupiter that incorporates the back...