Spin-orbit angle in compact planetary systems perturbed by an inclined companion. Application to the 55 Cancri system

The stellar spin orientation relative to the orbital planes of multiplanet systems are becoming accessible to observations. For example, 55 Cancri is a system composed of 5 planets orbiting a member of a stellar binary for which a projected obliquity of 72±12 deg relative to the orbit of the innermost planet has been reported (Bourrier & Hebrard 2014). This large obliquity has been attributed to the perturbation induced by the binary. Here we describe the secular evolution of similar systems and we discuss the case of the 55 Cancri system more deeply. We provide two different orbital configurations compatible with the currently available observations.