Structure of Exoplanetary Atmospheres

AST-0507621 Terrence Rettig圣母大学系外行星大气结构摘要将开发实验和分析工具，以探测和表征凌日期间的系外行星大气。特别注意的是HD 209458 B（迄今为止只观察到原子物种）和使用高分辨率高信噪比近红外光谱检测红外H3分子吸收线。作为气体巨电离层热平衡的主要调节剂之一，该分子作为大气界面的诊断是有意义的，并且将产生关于外大气热力学条件的有价值的信息。对H3分子吸收线的分析和统计模拟将使我们能够直接探测热膨胀剂的温度、柱密度和热层结构，并约束电流模型。为了实现项目目标，还将制定和采用复杂的数据处理和分析方法，这里的工作将为未来探测系外行星大气分子吸收的仪器的设计和开发提供投入。这里开发的算法也将公开提供。研究生和本科生（通过美国国家科学基金会赞助的圣母大学本科生研究经验）将在研究和随后的传播中发挥重要作用。

AST-0507621Terrence RettigUniversity of Notre DameStructure of Exoplanetary AtmospheresABSTRACTExperimental and analytical tools will be developed to detect and characterize exoplanetaryatmospheres during transits. Particular attention will be paid to HD 209458B (for which only atomicspecies have been observed to date) and the detection of infrared H3 molecular absorption linesusing high resolution high signal-to-noise near infrared spectroscopy. As one of the dominantregulators of thermal balance in gas giant ionospheres, this molecule is of interest as a diagnostic ofthe atmospheric interface and will yield valuable information on the thermodynamic conditions inthe outer atmosphere. Analysis and statistical modeling of molecular absorption lines of H3 willenable a direct probe of the temperature, column density and structure of the thermosphere of HotJupiters and constrain current models. To meet the project goals, sophisticated data reduction andanalysis methods will also be formulated and employed.The work here will provide input into the design and development of future instruments for thedetection of molecular absorption in exoplanetary atmospheres. The algorithms developed here willalso be made publicly available. Graduate students and undergraduates (through the NSF sponsoredResearch Experiences for Undergraduates at Notre Dame) will play a significant role in the researchand subsequent dissemination.