Dynamical and Biological Panspermia Constraints Within Multi-planet Exosystems

As discoveries of multiple planets in the habitable zone of their parent star mount, developing analytical techniques to quantify extrasolar intra-system panspermia will become increasingly important.

Here, we provide user-friendly prescriptions that describe the asteroid impact characteristics which would be necessary to transport life both inwards and outwards within these systems within a single framework. Our focus is on projectile generation and delivery and our expressions are algebraic, eliminating the need for the solution of differential equations. We derive a probability distribution function for life-bearing debris to reach a planetary orbit, and describe the survival of micro-organisms during planetary ejection, their journey through interplanetary space, and atmospheric entry.

Dimitri Veras, David J. Armstrong, James A. Blake, Jose F. Gutierrez-Marcos, Alan P. Jackson, Hendrik Schaefer
(Submitted on 12 Feb 2018)

Comments: Accepted for publication in Astrobiology
Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
Cite as: arXiv:1802.04279 [astro-ph.EP] (or arXiv:1802.04279v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)
Submission history
From: Dimitri Veras
[v1] Mon, 12 Feb 2018 19:00:03 GMT (1850kb)
https://arxiv.org/abs/1802.04279
Astrobiology