David J. Stevenson 2026-11-05
David J. Stevenson modeled a magnetic mechanism for hot-Jupiter radius inflation with Konstantin Batygin. Their calculation coupled winds, a planetary magnetic field and electrical conductivity to estimate how induced electric currents deposit Ohmic heating in a giant planet's interior.[ref]
Inflating Hot Jupiters With Ohmic Dissipation by Konstantin Batygin and David J. Stevenson. Abstract and sections I–III: wind induction, current paths and interior dissipation
Konstantin Batygin 2026-11-05
Konstantin Batygin, with David J. Stevenson, proposed Ohmic heating of a giant planet as a mechanism for oversized hot Jupiters. Their model used the interaction between atmospheric winds and the planetary magnetic field to drive electric currents into deeper conducting material.[ref]
Inflating Hot Jupiters With Ohmic Dissipation by Konstantin Batygin and David J. Stevenson. Abstract and structural/electrical model
In the simple resistive description, local irreversible heating is , with current density magnitude and electrical conductivity . Predicting a total power still requires the spatial current distribution and its closure; choosing a large wind speed alone is not a complete heating calculation.