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The discovery of a giant planet orbiting the M-dwarf star TOI-6383A has offered fresh insights into the formation of giant planets around these cool, low-mass stars. TOI-6383A, less than half the mass and radius of the Sun, forms a binary system with an even cooler companion star. The newly discovered planet, with a mass and radius comparable to other known giant planets, raises important questi by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Oct 09, 2024
The discovery of a giant planet orbiting the M-dwarf star TOI-6383A has offered fresh insights into the formation of giant planets around these cool, low-mass stars. TOI-6383A, less than half the mass and radius of the Sun, forms a binary system with an even cooler companion star. The newly discovered planet, with a mass and radius comparable to other known giant planets, raises important questions about the mechanisms that drive planet formation in such environments.
Lia Marta Bernabo, a PhD student in the Department of Extrasolar Planets and Atmospheres, is the lead author of the paper "Searching for GEMS: TOI-6383A b, a giant planet transiting an M3-dwarf star in a binary system," which was accepted for publication in the 'Astrophysical Journal' on September 25, 2024.
The discovery challenges existing models of planet formation around M-dwarf stars, which typically have less massive protoplanetary discs. One theory suggests that planets form through accretion, initiated by a massive core. However, this model faces obstacles related to the mass budget and time scales involved-M-dwarfs typically do not have enough material in their discs to support the formation of giant planets. As a result, only around 20 giant planets have been found around M-dwarfs.
An alternative theory is that giant planets form through rapid gravitational instability, where a massive protoplanetary disc breaks apart into clumps under its own gravity, eventually forming giant planets. The discovery of TOI-6383Ab adds weight to this idea, but further observations are needed to draw definitive conclusions. To advance this understanding, scientists estimate that about 40 similar systems need to be identified, which is double the current number.
This discovery, made by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and confirmed by ground-based follow-up observations and radial velocity measurements, is a key step in unraveling the mysteries of giant planet formation around M-dwarfs.
Research Report:Searching for GEMS: TOI-6383A b, a giant planet transiting an M3-dwarf star in a binary system
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