AUTHOR=Garcia-Sage K. , Farrish A. O. , Airapetian V. S. , Alexander D. , Cohen O. , Domagal-Goldman S. , Dong C. , Gronoff G. , Halford A. J. , Lazio J. , Luhmann J. G. , Schwieterman E. , Sciola A. , Segura A. , Toffoletto F. , Vievering J. , Ahmed Md Redyan , Bali K. , Rau G. TITLE=Star-exoplanet interactions: A growing interdisciplinary field in heliophysics JOURNAL=Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences VOLUME=10 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/astronomy-and-space-sciences/articles/10.3389/fspas.2023.1064076 DOI=10.3389/fspas.2023.1064076 ISSN=2296-987X ABSTRACT=
Traditionally, heliophysics is characterized as the study of the near-Earth space environment, where plasmas and neutral gases originating from the Earth, the Sun, and other solar system bodies interact in ways that are detectable only through
The interdisciplinary field of star-exoplanet interactions is a critical, growing area of study that enriches heliophysics. A multidisciplinary approach to heliophysics enables us to better understand universal processes that operate in diverse environments, as well as the evolution of our solar system and extreme space weather. The expertise, data, theory, and modeling tools developed by heliophysicists are crucial in understanding the space environments of exoplanets, their host stars, and their potential habitability. The mutual benefit that heliophysics and exoplanetary studies offer each other depends on strong, continuing solar system-focused and Earth-focused heliophysics studies. The heliophysics discipline requires new targeted funding to support inter-divisional opportunities, including small multi-disciplinary research projects, large collaborative research teams, and observations targeting the heliophysics of planetary and exoplanet systems. Here we discuss areas of heliophysics-relevant exoplanetary research, observational opportunities and challenges, and ways to promote the inclusion of heliophysics within the wider exoplanetary community.