Electromagnetic signals from planetary collisions

Abstract

Planet-planet collisions are expected during the early stages of the formation of extra-solar planets, and are also possible in mature planetary systems through secular planet-planet perturbations. We investigate the electromagnetic signals accompanied with these planetary collisions and their event rate, and explore the possibility of directly detecting such events. A typical Earth-Jupiter collision would give rise to a prompt EUV-soft-X-ray flash lasting for hours and a bright IR afterglow lasting for thousands of years. It is suggested that with the current and forthcoming observational technology and facilities, some of these collisional flashes or the post-collision remnants could be discovered.

5 pages, emulateapj, accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

References in corpus (2)

• What Fraction of Sun-like Stars have Planets?
• Detection of Molecular Hydrogen Orbiting a "Naked" T Tauri Star

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