Numerical simulations reveal outcomes of primordial black hole encounters with TOI 2796

Star system: TOI 2796 | Distance from the Sun: 1149 light years

The TOI 2796 system, which is known to host a hot Jupiter—a massive gas giant planet orbiting very close to its parent star—faces potential disruption from encounters with primordial black holes. Primordial black holes are hypothetical objects thought to have formed in the very early universe, long before the first stars and galaxies emerged. Using numerical three-body simulations, the gravitational effects of such an encounter on the planetary system were modeled over a duration of 100 days.

The simulations demonstrate that a close encounter between a primordial black hole and the TOI 2796 system leads to three distinct possible outcomes for the hot Jupiter. Depending on the geometry of the encounter, the planet may either be ejected entirely from the system, remain as part of a new bound triple system, or be captured by the black hole itself.

In the event of capture, the planet and the black hole form a new binary system with an orbital period of approximately 15 days at a distance of 0.0194 astronomical units. This combined pair would then be flung away from the parent star, escaping the system entirely. These findings illustrate how encounters with small, high-density objects like primordial black holes can significantly alter the structure and evolution of existing planetary systems.

Key findings
- Simulations identify three potential outcomes for a hot Jupiter during an encounter with a primordial black hole.
- The planet may be ejected from the host system entirely due to gravitational interactions.
- The encounter can result in a bound triple system where the planet maintains a stable orbit around the star.
- The primordial black hole can capture the planet into a new binary system that escapes the parent star.
- Captured planets may orbit the primordial black hole at a distance of 0.0194 astronomical units with a 15-day period.

Scientific study

Three body Simulations of a Primordial Black Hole Encounter with the TOI 2796 System (external link)