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A Maximum Radius for Habitable Planets

Alibert, Yann

In: Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres, 2015, vol. 45, no. 3, p. 319-325

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    Titre
    • A Maximum Radius for Habitable Planets
    Auteur
    • Alibert, Yann. Center for Space and Habitability, Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres, 2015, vol. 45, no. 3, p. 319-325. Springer Netherlands
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:332924
    Summary
    We compute the maximum radius a planet can have in order to fulfill two constraints that are likely necessary conditions for habitability: 1- surface temperature and pressure compatible with the existence of liquid water, and 2- no ice layer at the bottom of a putative global ocean, that would prevent the operation of the geologic carbon cycle to operate. We demonstrate that, above a given radius, these two constraints cannot be met: in the Super-Earth mass range (1-12 Mearth), the overall maximum that a planet can have varies between 1.8 and 2.3 Rearth. This radius is reduced when considering planets with higher Fe/Si ratios, and taking into account irradiation effects on the structure of the gas envelope.