Formation of Ultra-short-period Planets in Hot Jupiter Systems: Application to WASP-47

Abstract

The WASP-47 system is notable as the first known system hosting both inner and outer low-mass planetary companions around a hot Jupiter, with an ultra-short-period (USP) planet as the innermost planetary companion. The formation of such a unique configuration poses challenges to the lonely hot Jupiter formation model. Hot Jupiters in multiple planetary systems may have a similar formation process with warm Jupiter systems, which are more commonly found with companions. This implies that the WASP-47 system could bridge our understanding of both hot and warm Jupiter formation. In this work, we propose a possible formation scenario for the WASP-47 system based on its orbital configuration. The mean motion resonance trapping, giant planet perturbations, and tidal effects caused by the central star are key factors in the formation of USP planets in multiple planetary systems with hot Jupiters. Whether a planet can become a USP planet or a short-period super-Earth planet depends on the competition between eccentricity excitation by nearby giant planet perturbations and the eccentricity damping due to tidal effects. The ${Q}_{p}^{{\prime} }$ value of the innermost planet is essential for the final planetary configuration. Our results suggest that a ${Q}_{p}^{{\prime} }$ in the range of [1, 10] is favorable for the formation of the WASP-47 system. Based on the formation scenario, we estimate an occurrence rate of 8.4% ± 2.4% for USP planets in systems similar to WASP-47.

Keywords

• Exoplanet formation
• Exoplanet dynamics