Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2012
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012aas...21924515b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #219, #245.15
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Of the more than 500 known exoplanets, the detailed chemical composition of only a handful of exoplanet atmospheres is known. We endeavor to remedy this imbalance by using ground-based spectroscopy, which has been demonstrated to reliably reproduce space-based results (Swain et al., Nature 463, 2010) while obtaining new and unexpected information. Our larger coordinated effort is to systematically characterize transiting exoplanets using a variety of instruments. With this goal in mind, our IRTF/SpeX SXD (0.8-2.4 micron cross-dispersed) observations of WASP-1b and TrES-3b will be used to accomplish two main goals: first, to extend the application of exoplanet ground-based spectroscopy to a wider range of targets than are presently characterized; and second, to probe the temperature structure and begin to characterize the composition of the atmosphere with the transmission and emission spectra of the exoplanets. We will show the steps for our "Model, Correlation, Fit” data reduction method and initial results.
WASP-1b and TrES-3b are both highly-irradiated hot Jupiters with inexplicably inflated radii. This puts them in the pM class of exoplanets. Theory predicts that pM class exoplanets should have a thermal inversion, evidence of H2O, CO, TiO, and VO, and a large day/night contrast; all of which may help explain the inflated radii of these planets (Fortney et al., ApJ, 678, 2008). Thus far, evidence shows that WASP-1b fits this theory (Wheatley et al., submitted to ApJ, 2010). However, TrES-3b does not appear to have the thermal inversion we expect (Croll et al., ApJ, 718, 2010). This apparent contradiction implies that we do not have enough of an understanding about pM class exoplanets. Therefore, determining the structure and composition of the atmospheres of pM class exoplanets is necessary to help us sort among competing theories as to the structure and source of the inflated radius.
Bloemhard Heather
Creech-Eakman Michelle
Deroo Pieter
ExoSpec Team
Hrynevych Michael
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