Outstanding Questions in Giant Planet Theory

arXiv:2605.02818 · astro-ph.EP · Submitted 2026-05-04 · Read on arXiv

Ravit Helled

astro-ph.EP

Submitted: 2026-05-04

Comments: resubmitted to Astrophysics and Space Science

License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/

Terminology

• Core — 16× in this paper · explained in 2 episodes
• Metallicity — 9× in this paper · explained in 3 episodes
• Disk Instability — 6× in this paper
• Ablation — 1× in this paper · explained in 1 episode
• Accuracy — 1× in this paper · explained in 1 episode
• Benchmark — 1× in this paper · explained in 2 episodes
• Mixing Length Theory — 1× in this paper
• Population Synthesis — 1× in this paper · explained in 2 episodes

Sources

• Formation of Giant Planets
• Unraveling the origin of giant exoplanets: Observational implications of convective mixing
• Giant Planet Scatterings and Collisions: Hydrodynamics, Merger-Ejection Branching Ratio, and Properties of the Remnants
• Bayesian Evolution Models for Jupiter with Helium Rain and Double-diffusive Convection
• Planet formation -- observational constraints, physical processes, and compositional patterns
• Mixing of Condensable Constituents with H-He During the Formation & Evolution of Jupiter

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• Detectability of resolved hydrogen lines from the accretion shock at gas giants and their CPDs
• Binary-lens Microlensing Degeneracy: Impact on Planetary Sensitivity and Mass-ratio Function
• Atmospheric escape fractionates secondary but not primary atmospheres
• The Occurrence Rate of Nearby Planetary Companions to Hot Jupiters