Stellar Winds Drive Strong Variations in Exoplanet Evaporative Outflow Patterns and Transit Absorption Signatures

Abstract Stellar wind and photon radiation interactions with a planet can cause atmospheric depletion, which may have potentially catastrophic impact on planet’s habitability. While planetary atmospheres outflows been researched to some degree, studies of stellar are in their infancy. Here, we use three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations model the effect magnetosphere outflow hypothetical planet, modeled an H-rich evaporating envelope prescribed mass-loss rate, orbiting habitable zone close low-mass M dwarf. We take TRAPPIST-1 system as prototype, our simulated situated at orbit TRAPPIST-1e. show that is accelerated advected upon interaction wind, resulting diverse range morphologies plasma distributions local conditions change along orbit. consider implications wind–outflow potential hydrogen Ly ? observations atmosphere during transits. The observational signatures depend strongly time observation be subject considerable variation timescales short hour. Our results indicate observed variations exoplanet transit could explained by interaction.