Thousands of exoplanets have been detected orbiting other stars. Understanding the structure, dynamics and evolution of these bodies is crucial for determining whether they are habitable. The large sampling of exoplanets also helps put our own planetary system in context as we can investigate statistics of planets. My group and collaborators have carried out investigations of magnetic field influences on exoplanet winds, interior structure models models for water-rich planets and the influence of metallic mantle layers on observing exoplanet magnetic fields. Relevant papers include:

 

• Batygin, K. & Stanley, S., “Non-axisymmetric flows on Hot Jupiters with Oblique Magnetic Fields”, Astrophys. J. 794:10 (2014).

• Batygin, K., Stanley, S. and Stevenson, D., “Magnetically controlled circulation on hot extrasolar planets”, Astrophys. J. 776: 53 (2013).

• Vilim, R., Stanley, S., and Elkins-Tanton, L., “The effect of lower mantle metallization on magnetic field generation in rocky exoplanets”, Astrophys. J. Lett. 768, L30 (2013).

• Tian, B.Y. & Stanley, S., “Interior structure of water planets: Implications for their dynamo source regions”, Astrophys. J. 768, 156 (2013).