Tidally distorted barytropes and their Roche limits, with application to WASP-12b

TL;DR

This paper models the Roche limit and shape of the hot Jupiter WASP-12b, analyzing its proximity to disruption, mass loss, and the influence of internal and atmospheric properties on its stability.

Contribution

It provides an improved tidal model for calculating the Roche density and shape of WASP-12b, considering internal structure and atmospheric effects.

Findings

WASP-12b's mean density is close to its Roche limit.

The planet's mass loss rate is highly sensitive to atmospheric opacity and temperature.

The planet is likely near disruption, with a lifetime influenced by internal and atmospheric factors.

Abstract

The hot Jupiter WASP-12b has been found to be on a decaying 1.09-day orbit. The mean density of the planet inferred from transit and radial-velocity data is near its Roche limit; just how near depends on the planet's uncertain internal structure. There is also spectroscopic evidence of mass loss. We accurately calculate the Roche density on the assumption of a synchronously rotating $n=1$ polytrope, and find this to be only $15-20\%$ below the observational estimates for the mean density. We discuss the implied shape of the planet, its lifetime before complete disruption, and its current rate of mass loss based on our improved tidal model. The present mass-loss rate is at least as sensitive to the opacity and temperature profiles of the planet's atmosphere as to its internal structure, however.