Different Planetary Eccentricity-Period (PEP) Distributions of Small- and Giant-Planets

Abstract

We used the database of $1040$ short-period ($1\le P<200$ days) exoplanets radial-velocity (RV) orbits to study the planetary eccentricity-period (PEP) distribution. We first divided the sample into low- and high-mass exoplanet sub-samples based on the distribution of the (minimum) planetary masses, which displays a clear two-Gaussian distribution, separated at $0.165M_J$. We then selected $216$ orbits, low- and high-mass alike, with eccentricities significantly distinct from circular orbits. The $131$ giant-planet eccentric orbits display a clear upper envelope, which we model quantitatively, rises monotonically from zero eccentricity and reaches an eccentricity of $0.8$ at $P\sim 100$ days. Conversely, the $85$ low-mass planetary orbits display a flat eccentricity distribution between $0.1$ and $0.5$, with almost no dependence on the orbital period. We show that the striking difference between the two PEP distributions is not a result of the detection technique used. The upper envelope of the high-mass planets, also seen in short-period binary stars, is a clear signature of tidal circularization, which probably took place inside the planets, while the small-planet PEP distribution suggests that the circularization was not effective, probably due to dynamical interactions with neighboring planets.

12 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to AJ (revised after second referee report)