Jade C. Carter-Bond, David P. O'Brien, Elisa Delgado Mena, Garik Israelian, Nuno C. Santos, Jonay I. Gonzalez Hernandez
Simulations have shown that a diverse range of extrasolar terrestrial planet
bulk compositions are likely to exist, based on the observed variations in host
star elemental abundances. Based on recent studies, it is expected that a
significant proportion of host stars may have Mg/Si ratios below 1. Here we
examine this previously neglected group of systems. Planets simulated as
forming within these systems are found to be Mg-depleted (compared to the
Earth), consisting of silicate species such as pyroxene and various feldspars.
Planetary carbon abundances also vary in accordance with the host stars C/O
ratio. The predicted abundances are in keeping with observations of polluted
white dwarfs, lending validity to this approach. Further studies are required
to determine the full planetary impacts of the bulk compositions predicted
here.
View original:
http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.1939
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