title: The origin of hydrogen around HD 209458b.
abstract: Using numerical simulation, Holmström et al. proposed a plausible alternative explanation of the observed Lyman-alpha absorption that was seen during the transit of HD 209458b (ref. 2). They conclude that radiation pressure alone cannot explain the observations and that a peculiar stellar wind is needed. Here we show that radiation pressure alone can in fact produce the observed high-velocity hydrogen atoms. We also emphasize that even if the stellar wind is responsible for the observed hydrogen, to have a sufficient number of atoms for charge exchange with stellar wind, the energetic neutral atom (ENA) model also needs a significant escape from the planet atmosphere of similar amplitude as quoted in ref. 2.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, UMR 7095, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, 98bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France. lecaveli@iap.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lecavelier des Etangs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidal-Madjar
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Désert