Dynamic Studies of Exoplanet Atmospheres: From Global Properties to Local Physics

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

Our Spitzer Exploration Science program will provide a detailed look at the properties of highly irradiated exoplanet atmospheres, including their pressure-temperature profiles, compositions, and circulation patterns. We employ a two-pronged approach that combines a statistically significant survey of the secondary eclipses and corresponding hemisphere-averaged properties of these planets with a more detailed, spatially-resolved look at phase curves for a select subset of five planets. The first part of our study will more than double the number of hot Jupiters with secondary eclipse observations and provide the statistical leverage needed to characterize the nature of the high-altitude absorber responsible for the presence of temperature inversions in the atmospheres of HD 209458b, TrES-2, TrES-4, and XO-1b. Secondary eclipse observations alone are not enough, however, as we expect the properties of these tidally-locked planets may vary substantially between the permanent day and night sides. By measuring changes in the planet's emission spectrum as a function of orbital phase we can search for longitudinal variations in the pressure-temperature profiles, chemistry, clouds, and circulation patterns of these highly irradiated atmospheres. Comparisons between planets will allow us to investigate the importance of irradiation, rotation rate, surface gravity, eccentricity, and stellar metallicity in determining the pressure-temperature structure and dynamic meteorology of these atmospheres.

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