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Interior structure models of terrestrial exoplanets and application to CoRoT-7 b

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2010

Frank W. Wagner
Affiliation:
Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center, Berlin-Adlershof, Germany email: [email protected]
Frank Sohl
Affiliation:
Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center, Berlin-Adlershof, Germany email: [email protected]
Heike Rauer
Affiliation:
Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center, Berlin-Adlershof, Germany email: [email protected]
Hauke Hussmann
Affiliation:
Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center, Berlin-Adlershof, Germany email: [email protected]
Matthias Grott
Affiliation:
Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center, Berlin-Adlershof, Germany email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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In this study, we model the internal structure of CoRoT-7b, considered as a typical extrasolar terrestrial planet, using mass and energy balance constraints. Our results suggest that the deep interior is predominantly composed of dry silicate rock, similar to the Earth's Moon. A central iron core, if present, would be relatively small and less massive (<15 wt.% of the planet's total mass) as compared to the Earth's (core mass fraction 32.6 wt.%). Furthermore, a partly molten near-surface magma ocean could be maintained, provided surface temperatures were high enough and the rock component mainly composed of Earth-like mineral phase assemblages.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2010

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