Research

Star-planet interaction and planetary magnetospheres

Left: An artist view of a close-orbit planet affected by the stellar wind, radiation and gravitational pull. Right: A schematic illustration of interaction between the stellar wind plasma and exoplanetary magnetosphere with the escaping upper atmospheric material flow.

The performed work in this research area aims at the understanding of various physical processes related with the complex stellar-planetary interaction processes, which drive the continuous evolution of planets. Understanding of stellar-planetary interactions, including the impact of stellar radiation and plasma flows on planetary environments and the evolution of planetary systems is among the major challenges of modern space physics. The optical and spectral phenomena, measured during exoplanetary transits, as well as in-situ data from space missions in the Solar System, provide a valuable information for probing and characterization of planetary systems and their dynamical environments. We use the available observational data for a consistent interpretation and convert the empirical facts to scientific knowledge.

Stellar-planetary interaction processes are manifested in the dynamical atmospheric and nearby plasma environments, formed under the influence of their host stars and their activity factors, such as stellar winds, radiations, and particle flows, which altogether are called as exoplanetary space weather.

Here we focus on the following subjects

  • Stellar activity and starspot diagnostics with high precision photometry;
  • The Sun as a proxy of star: Investigation of solar activity phenomena and wind patterns;
  • Global self-consistent 3D (M)HD modelling of exoplanets immersed in the stellar wind flows and remote observational diagnostics of their dynamic environments;
  • In-transit photometric sensing of exoplanetary dusty environments, exorings, exomoons;
  • (Exo)planetary magnetospheres & radio emissions in MHD and plasma kinetic approaches.

Missions:

Moreover, besides the above mentioned missions where the IWF was/is involved data from Kepler and Solar Dynamic Orbiter are also used.

For further information, please contact:
Dr. Maxim Khodachenko

Missions