Alfvén wave-driven protostellar wind and its interaction with the planetary magnetosphere

• Grant number: 21/11689-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Stellar Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: Vera Jatenco Silva Pereira
• Grantee: Yasmmin Ferreira Tamburus
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/10559-5 - Investigation of High Energy and Plasma Astrophysics Phenomena: Theory, Numerical Simulations, Observations, and Instrument Development for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), AP.ESP

Abstract

T-Tauri stars in their more evolved stages have strong stellar winds and also surface magnetic fields around kG. Previous work has shown that the damping of Alfvén waves, created by turbulent movements at the base of the wind, can explain the observed speeds of these winds. The current and growing search for rocky exoplanets of dimensions comparable to Earth's makes it necessary a better understanding of the interactions between the stellar wind and the planetary magnetosphere, since it can play a shield role, acting against the erosion of the atmosphere by the action of the wind. In this project we will analyze the interaction between the Alfvén wave-driven magnetized protostellar wind, and the planetary magnetosphere for the purpose of verifying how the planetary atmosphere can be reduced/eliminated by the wind and the consequence for the habitability of the planet.