Collaborative Research: Explaining the Orbits of Eccentric Warm Jupiters

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $300,202 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

The orbits of planetary systems hold clues about their origins. Gas giants like Jupiter are thought to form on circular orbits far from stars. However, exoplanets with large eccentricity abound, and the “hot Jupiter” class have orbital periods of just a few days. In some cases, extremely eccentric planets may approach their stars, where tidal forces deform them, dissipate energy, and ultimately circularize their orbits—a hypothesis known as high-eccentricity migration (HEM), which is the likely origin of many hot Jupiters. This project focuses on the physics of “warm Jupiters,” which orbit far enough from their stars to avoid strong tidal forces yet are too close to have formed in place, also suggesting a migratory origin. Their orbital properties inspire new projects that this team, from Indiana University and Northern Arizona University (NAU), is pursuing. They will provide research opportunities and training of new astronomers at both institutions, making project software publicly available, and hosting a new Spanish-language public lecture series at NAU. This work tackles a recent puzzle: the origin of eccentric warm Jupiters. One of the strongest pieces of evidence of HEM is the misaligned orbital planes of many hot Jupiters relative to the equator plane of their host stars, but eccentric warm Jupiters are typically aligned. To potentially explain this trend, this study pursues in-depth modeling of planetary systems: (a) coplanar high-eccentricity migration with a dy

Key facts

NSF award ID
2511257
Awardee
Indiana University (IN)
SAM.gov UEI
YH86RTW2YVJ4
PI
Cristobal Petrovich
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
THEORETICAL & COMPUTATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS
Estimated total
$300,202
Funds obligated
$300,202
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028