The Chemistry of Exoplanet Atmospheres

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

To date, more than 520 extrasolar planets have been discovered (http://exoplanet.eu/). Approximately 20% of these so-called 'exoplanets' are transiting planets where detection arises
from monitoring a periodic dip in the flux of the host star. The advantageous geometry of these particular systems allows us to probe the atmospheric structure and composition of the exoplanet either via transmission spectroscopy through the atmospheric limb during transit, or via emission spectroscopy of the planet's dayside by comparing spectra just before and during occultation. Recent observations using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the Spitzer Space Telescope and ground-based facilities such as the Very Large Telescope (VLT), have hinted at the presence of molecules (CO, CO2v], H2O and CH4) in the atmospheres of several nearby, bright exoplanet systems (e.g. HD 189733 b, HD 209458 b and GJ 436 b). Here, we describe our work on developing a self-consistent coupled physical and chemical model of an exoplanetary atmosphere. We investigate non-equilibrium carbon, oxygen and nitrogen chemistry and photochemistry in such atmospheres to determine the chemical and physical structure and resultant effects on transmission and emission spectra.

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