Architecture Classification for Extrasolar Planetary Systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive classification framework for exoplanetary system architectures, dividing systems into meaningful categories based on observational data, to better understand their diversity and formation.

Contribution

The paper develops a new classification system for planetary systems based on a large survey, enabling systematic categorization of nearly all confirmed multi-planet systems.

Findings

Categories include 'peas-in-a-pod' and 'warm Jupiter' systems.

Most multi-planet systems can be classified with minimal ambiguity.

Prevalence of different system types varies with observational biases.

Abstract

This paper presents a classification framework for the architectures of planetary systems based on a complete survey of the confirmed exoplanet population. With nearly 6000 confirmed exoplanets discovered, including more than 300 multiplanet systems with three or more planets, the current observational sample has reached the point where it is both feasible and useful to build a classification system that divides the observed population into meaningful categories. This framework provides a criterion to split planetary systems into inner and outer regimes, and then further divides inner systems into dynamical classes. The resulting categories include "peas-in-a-pod systems" with uniformly small planets and "warm Jupiter systems" with a mix of large and small planets, as well as "closely-spaced systems" and "gapped systems," with further subdivisions based on the locations of gaps and other features. These categories can classify nearly all of the confirmed systems with three or more planets with minimal ambiguity. We qualitatively examine the relative prevalence of each type of system, subject to observational selection effects, as well as other notable features such as the presence of hot Jupiters. A small number of outlier systems are also discussed. Potential additional classes of systems yet to be discovered are proposed.