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- Title
A Maximum Radius for Habitable Planets.
- Authors
Alibert, Yann
- Abstract
We compute the maximum radius a planet can have in order to fulfill two constraints that are likely necessary conditions for habitability: 1- surface temperature and pressure compatible with the existence of liquid water, and 2- no ice layer at the bottom of a putative global ocean, that would prevent the operation of the geologic carbon cycle to operate. We demonstrate that, above a given radius, these two constraints cannot be met: in the Super-Earth mass range (1-12 M), the overall maximum that a planet can have varies between 1.8 and 2.3 R. This radius is reduced when considering planets with higher Fe/Si ratios, and taking into account irradiation effects on the structure of the gas envelope.
- Subjects
HABITABLE planets; RADIUS (Geometry); SURFACE temperature; SURFACE pressure; EXTRATERRESTRIAL resources; PLANETARY mass
- Publication
Origins of Life & Evolution of the Biosphere, 2015, Vol 45, Issue 3, p319
- ISSN
0169-6149
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11084-015-9440-7