An Examination of Li Pollution and Giant Planet Consumption by a Host Star

We discuss the probability that the consumption of a giant planet could pollute its host star, beginning with dynamical processes that could bring planetary material to the stellar surface and the effects this would have on other planets in the system. Hydrodynamical simulations show that heated giant planets would be efficiently destroyed near the surface of the star, while the cores of cold giant planets may also be destroyed entirely within the stars convection zone. Detection of Li in stars hosting planets could also be used to distinguish between giant planet formation theories, and can be used to detect the consumption of giant planets independent of planet mass.