Atmospheric escape by magnetically driven wind from gaseous planets

Abstract

We calculate the mass loss driven by MHD waves from hot Jupiters by using MHD simulations in one-dimensional flux tubes. If a gaseous planet has magnetic field, MHD waves are excited by turbulence at the surface, dissipate at the upper atmosphere, and drive gas outflows. Our calculation shows that mass loss rates are comparable to the observed mass loss rates of hot Jupiters, therefore it is suggested that gas flow driven by MHD waves can plays an important role in the mass loss from gaseous planets. The mass loss rate varies dramatically with radius and mass of a planet: a gaseous planet with a small mass but with inflated radius produces very large mass loss rate. We also derive an analytical expression for the dependence of mass loss rate on planet radius and mass that is in good agreement with the numerical calculation. The mass loss rate also depends on the amplitude of velocity dispersion at the surface of a planet. Thus we expect to infer the condition of the surface and the internal structure of a gaseous planet from future observations of mass loss rate from various exoplanets.