Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p23f..02m&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P23F-02
Physics
[0343] Atmospheric Composition And Structure / Planetary Atmospheres, [6296] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Extra-Solar Planets
Scientific paper
Recent observations are allowing unprecedented constraints on the chemical compositions of exoplanetary atmospheres. The first statistical constraint on the C/O ratio of an exoplanetary atmosphere was reported recently and was found to be greater than unity, opening the possibility of exotic carbon-rich planets. C/O ratios place important constraints on planet formation scenarios, planetary interiors, and on the atmospheric chemistry and temperature structures. In this talk, we will present a survey of observational constraints on atmospheric elemental and molecular abundances for an ensemble of transiting exoplanets. The quantities we report include C/H, O/H, and C/O ratios, and mixing ratios of H2O, CO, CH4, and CO2. We will report several candidate carbon-rich exoplanets along with ongoing observational and theoretical efforts towards confirming these candidates. Based on the C/O ratios, we will discuss the atmospheric chemistry and temperature structure of the planets, their possible formation scenarios, and the chemistry and apportionment of ices, rock, and volatiles in their interiors. Observational constraints on the physicochemical phase space allows us to introduce a two-dimensional classification scheme for exoplanetary atmospheres, which we will also discuss in this talk.
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