"Systems of Short-Period Exoplanets: Regularities and Anomalies"

Exoplanetary systems containing multiple close-in, sub-Neptune-sized planets are ubiquitous, representing a dominant outcome of planet formation. These systems exhibit a striking degree of architectural regularity and uniformity, such as nearly circular and coplanar orbits, regular orbital spacings, and intra-system correlations in planetary masses and radii. Beyond this first-order structure, however, these systems also display mysterious anomalies that require explanations. This talk will address three “architectural anomalies” from both observational and theoretical perspectives. I will propose that several of these anomalies can be explained by considerations of planet-planet and planet-star dynamical interactions.