Helium planet as presented by the artist
A helium planet is a theoretical type of planet that is formed from a low-mass white dwarf when it loses mass [1] . Conventional gas giants , such as Jupiter and Saturn , are composed mainly of hydrogen ( helium is only a secondary component). There is no hydrogen in the helium planet, because it is formed from a star that has converted all of its hydrogen into helium.
Content
Features
According to the simulation results, a helium planet should have approximately the same diameter as a hydrogen-helium planet of comparable mass. But helium planets in their mass can exceed Jupiter by 13 times and not turn into brown dwarfs due to the fact that they do not have deuterium (therefore, nuclear fusion is impossible).
Possible representatives
- Gd 66 b
Notes
- ↑ Seager, S .; Kuchner, M .; Hier-Majumder, CA; Militzer, B. Mass-Radius Relationships for Solid Exoplanets (English) // The Astrophysical Journal : journal. - IOP Publishing 2007. - Vol. 669 , no. 2 . - P. 1279-1297 . - DOI : 10.1086 / 521346 . - . - arXiv : 0707.2895 .
Links
- All Planets Possible , Astrobiology Magazine (September 30, 2007).