On the Comprehensive 3D Modeling of the Radiation Environment of Proxima Centauri b: A New Constraint on Habitability?
The combined influence of stellar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) on the radiation environment, and hence potential habitability, of Earth-like exoplanets is relatively unknown. The present study, for the first time, comprehensively models the transport of these particles in a ph...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad2ade |
| _version_ | 1797255717619499008 |
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| author | N. Eugene Engelbrecht Konstantin Herbst R. Du Toit Strauss Klaus Scherer Juandre Light K. D. Moloto |
| author_facet | N. Eugene Engelbrecht Konstantin Herbst R. Du Toit Strauss Klaus Scherer Juandre Light K. D. Moloto |
| author_sort | N. Eugene Engelbrecht |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The combined influence of stellar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) on the radiation environment, and hence potential habitability, of Earth-like exoplanets is relatively unknown. The present study, for the first time, comprehensively models the transport of these particles in a physics-first manner, using a unique suite of numerical models applied to the astrosphere of Proxima Centauri. The astrospheric plasma environment is modeled magnetohydrodynamically, while particle transport is modeled using a 3D ab initio GCR modulation code, as opposed to previous 1D approaches to this problem. StEP intensities are also calculated using observed stellar event profiles for Proxima Centauri as inputs. Computed intensities are then used to calculate possible atmospheric ionization effects and dose rates. We demonstrate that the contribution of GCRs to these quantities is indeed significant, contrary to the conclusions of previous studies. Furthermore, we propose a novel potential constraint on exoplanetary habitability, namely the rotational period of the host star, based on the unique 3D modeling approach presented here. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:10:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e2754c34f514e2f855b3e175882eec8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:10:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e2754c34f514e2f855b3e175882eec82024-03-20T09:44:15ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572024-01-0196418910.3847/1538-4357/ad2adeOn the Comprehensive 3D Modeling of the Radiation Environment of Proxima Centauri b: A New Constraint on Habitability?N. Eugene Engelbrecht0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3659-7956Konstantin Herbst1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5622-4829R. Du Toit Strauss2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0205-0808Klaus Scherer3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9530-1396Juandre Light4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9788-5540K. D. Moloto5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4840-6355Centre for Space Research, North-West University , 2520, Potchefstroom, South Africa ; n.eugene.engelbrecht@gmail.comInstitut für Experimentelle and Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel , GermanyCentre for Space Research, North-West University , 2520, Potchefstroom, South Africa ; n.eugene.engelbrecht@gmail.comInstitut für Theoretische Physik IV , Ruhr-Universität Bochum, GermanyCentre for Space Research, North-West University , 2520, Potchefstroom, South Africa ; n.eugene.engelbrecht@gmail.com; South African National Space Agency , Hermanus, South AfricaCentre for Space Research, North-West University , 2520, Potchefstroom, South Africa ; n.eugene.engelbrecht@gmail.comThe combined influence of stellar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) on the radiation environment, and hence potential habitability, of Earth-like exoplanets is relatively unknown. The present study, for the first time, comprehensively models the transport of these particles in a physics-first manner, using a unique suite of numerical models applied to the astrosphere of Proxima Centauri. The astrospheric plasma environment is modeled magnetohydrodynamically, while particle transport is modeled using a 3D ab initio GCR modulation code, as opposed to previous 1D approaches to this problem. StEP intensities are also calculated using observed stellar event profiles for Proxima Centauri as inputs. Computed intensities are then used to calculate possible atmospheric ionization effects and dose rates. We demonstrate that the contribution of GCRs to these quantities is indeed significant, contrary to the conclusions of previous studies. Furthermore, we propose a novel potential constraint on exoplanetary habitability, namely the rotational period of the host star, based on the unique 3D modeling approach presented here.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad2adeAstrospheresExoplanet atmospheresGalactic cosmic raysSolar energetic particles |
| spellingShingle | N. Eugene Engelbrecht Konstantin Herbst R. Du Toit Strauss Klaus Scherer Juandre Light K. D. Moloto On the Comprehensive 3D Modeling of the Radiation Environment of Proxima Centauri b: A New Constraint on Habitability? The Astrophysical Journal Astrospheres Exoplanet atmospheres Galactic cosmic rays Solar energetic particles |
| title | On the Comprehensive 3D Modeling of the Radiation Environment of Proxima Centauri b: A New Constraint on Habitability? |
| title_full | On the Comprehensive 3D Modeling of the Radiation Environment of Proxima Centauri b: A New Constraint on Habitability? |
| title_fullStr | On the Comprehensive 3D Modeling of the Radiation Environment of Proxima Centauri b: A New Constraint on Habitability? |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Comprehensive 3D Modeling of the Radiation Environment of Proxima Centauri b: A New Constraint on Habitability? |
| title_short | On the Comprehensive 3D Modeling of the Radiation Environment of Proxima Centauri b: A New Constraint on Habitability? |
| title_sort | on the comprehensive 3d modeling of the radiation environment of proxima centauri b a new constraint on habitability |
| topic | Astrospheres Exoplanet atmospheres Galactic cosmic rays Solar energetic particles |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad2ade |
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