Revisiting the pre-main-sequence evolution of stars II. Consequences of planet formation on stellar surface composition

TL;DR

This study models how planet formation influences stellar surface composition during pre-main-sequence evolution, predicting observable metallicity variations that depend on stellar mass and formation timing.

Contribution

It introduces a new stellar evolution framework incorporating planet formation effects on surface composition, highlighting mass-dependent metallicity scatter and potential explanations for observed abundance anomalies.

Findings

High-mass stars show larger [Fe/H] scatter due to planet formation.

Predicted [Fe/H] spread of ~0.02 dex at 5500 K, aligning with some binary star observations.

Refractory element depletion in the Sun can be explained if certain planetary formation conditions are met.

Abstract

We want to investigate how planet formation is imprinted on stellar surface composition using up-to-date stellar evolution models. We simulate the evolution of pre-main-sequence stars as a function of the efficiency of heat injection during accretion, the deuterium mass fraction, and the stellar mass. For simplicity, we assume that planet formation leads to the late accretion of zero-metallicity gas, diluting the surface stellar composition as a function of the mass of the stellar outer convective zone. We adopt $150\,{\mathrm{M}_\oplus}(M_\star/\mathrm{M}_\odot)(Z/\mathrm{Z}_\odot)$ as an uncertain but plausible estimate of the mass of heavy elements that is not accreted by stars with giant planets, including our Sun. By combining our stellar evolution models to these estimates, we evaluate the consequences of planet formation on stellar surface composition. We show that after the first $\sim0.1$ Myr, the evolution of the convective zone follows classical evolutionary tracks within a factor of two in age. We find that planet formation should lead to a scatter in stellar surface composition that is larger for high-mass stars than for low-mass stars. We predict a spread in [Fe/H] of approximately $0.02$ dex for stars with $T_\mathrm{eff}\sim 5500\,$K, marginally compatible with differences in metallicities observed in some binary stars with planets. Stars with $T_\mathrm{eff}\geq 7000\,$K may show much larger [Fe/H] deficits, by 0.6 dex or more, compatible with the existence of refractory-poor $\lambda$ Boo stars. We also find that planet formation may explain the lack of refractory elements seen in the Sun as compared to solar twins, but only if the ice-to-rock ratio in the solar-system planets is less than $\approx0.4$ and planet formation began less than $\approx1.3$ Myr after the beginning of the formation of the Sun. (abbreviated)