The Potential Impact of Primordial Black Holes on Exoplanet Systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how primordial black holes could influence exoplanetary orbits through close encounters, potentially deforming planetary systems, and provides numerical estimates of such interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified numerical framework to assess the frequency and impact of primordial black hole flybys on exoplanet systems, a novel consideration in astrophysics.

Findings

Primordial black holes can significantly alter exoplanet orbits during close encounters.

Numerical estimates suggest a non-negligible probability of PBH interactions with planetary systems.

Orbital parameters of affected systems can experience measurable changes.

Abstract

The orbits of planetary systems can be deformed from their initial configurations due to close encounters with larger astrophysical bodies. Typical candidates for close encounters are stars and binaries. We explore the prospect that if there is a sizeable population of primordial black holes (PBH) in our galaxy, then these may also impact the orbits of exoplanets. Specifically, in a simplified setting, we study numerically how many planetary systems might have a close encounter with a PBH, and analyze the potential changes to the orbital parameters of systems that undergo PBH flybys.