Constraining tidal dissipation in stars from the destruction rates of exoplanets

Abstract

We use the distribution of extrasolar planets in circular orbits around stars with surface convective zones detected by ground-based transit searches to constrain how efficiently tides raised by the planet are dissipated on the parent star. We parameterize this efficiency as a tidal quality factor (Q *). We conclude that the population of currently known planets is inconsistent with Q * < 107 at the 99% level. Previous studies show that values of Q * between 105 and 107 are required in order to explain the orbital circularization of main-sequence low-mass binary stars in clusters, suggesting that different dissipation mechanisms might be acting in the two cases, most likely due to the very different tidal forcing frequencies relative to the stellar rotation frequency occurring for star-star versus planet-star systems. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..