Stable and habitable systems with two giant planets

TL;DR

This study investigates the stability of hypothetical Solar System-like planetary systems with two giant planets, analyzing how variations in giant planet and Sun masses affect orbital stability and habitable zones.

Contribution

It provides new stability maps showing that inner planet orbits remain stable with increased giant planet masses and explores how changing the Sun's mass influences habitable zones.

Findings

Jupiter can be four times more massive without destabilizing inner planets

Saturn can be three times more massive while maintaining stability

Stable orbits for the inner planets occur when the Sun's mass exceeds 0.33 M_Sun

Abstract

We have studied planetary systems which are similar to the Solar System and built up from three inner rocky planets (Venus, Earth, Mars) and two outer gas giants. The stability of the orbits of the inner planets is discussed in the cases of different masses of the gas planets. To demonstrate the results stability maps were made and it was found that Jupiter could be four times and Saturn could be three times more massive while the orbits of the inner planets stay stable. Similar calculations were made by changing the mass of the Sun. In this case the position of the rocky planets and the extension of the liquid water habitable and the UV habitable zones were studied for different masses of the Sun. It was found that the orbits of the planets were stable for values greater than 0.33 M_Sun where M_Sun is the mass of the Sun and at lower masses of the Sun (at about 0.8 M_Sun) only Venus, but for higher mass values (at about 1.2 M_Sun) Earth and also Mars are located in both habitable zones.