Effects of different equations of state on interior structure models of exoplanets

Abstract

In this work we aim at quantifying the influence of different isothermal and thermally-dependent equations of state (EoS) on the computation of the interior of exoplanets. We perform an extensive parameter study to model the interior structure of a vast number of sub-Neptunian exoplanets of different composition, ranging from super-Earths consisting just of a metallic core and a silicate mantle, to sub-Neptunes including ice and gaseous layers. Each model run is performed with a number of different isothermal as well as thermally-dependent EoS. We find that for the rocky interior of an exoplanet, the choice of EoS has little influence on the characterization of the interior structure of the planet.