Author:
mohammadzade, Akbar
Category:
Research Papers
Sub-Category:
Astrophysics
Date Published:
February 22, 2026
Keywords:
Solar Wind, Axial Rotation, Giant Planets, Jupiter, Saturn, T-Tauri Phase.
Abstract:
This research investigates the role of Solar Wind Drag in influencing the rotational dynamics of giant planets in the solar system, specifically Jupiter and Saturn, during the early phase of rapid axial rotation development. Given the unusually fast axial rotation of these planets in their nascent stages, the influence of external and internal forces on the evolution of their angular momentum is critically examined. Modeling suggests that the interaction between the strong planetary magnetic fields of the giants and the high-velocity plasma of the solar wind can generate a significant drag torque. This torque, by altering the planet's angular momentum over time, affects the rate of slowing down or stabilization of the axial rotation during the T-Tauri phase (near the onset of atmospheric/disk formation). Calculations based on plasma parameters and magnetic field measurements assess the contribution of this external force compared to internal forces arising from the evolution of early accretion disks, aiming to determine whether solar wind could have been an effective factor in these planets reaching their current state of axial rotation.
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