event
Monday 13 Nov 2017: Tidal flows in extrasolar planets
Dr. Adrian Barker - University of Leeds
H103 14:30-16:30
Tidal interactions between short-period planets and their host stars are thought to play an important role in the evolution of planetary orbits, and stellar and planetary spins. However, the mechanisms responsible for tidal dissipation are not well understood theoretically. I will present results from hydrodynamical (and magnetohydrodynamical) simulations of tidal flows in short-period gaseous planets and stars from first principles. I will discuss the outcome of two fluid instabilities that could be important for tidal dissipation (the elliptical and precessional instabilities). Finally, I will present some new results on the influence of semi-convective layers on tidally-excited waves and tidal dissipation in planets.