Collaborative Research: Observing Exoplanet Atmospheres at High Resolution

该团队将使用高分辨率光谱仪对附近的大型系外行星进行直接光谱观测。他们将通过直接观察来表征年轻的“热木星”的大气组成。他们将关注一氧化碳、甲烷和水等常见分子的丰度。他们的计划是对仍在形成过程中的最年轻的大质量系外行星进行首次调查。他们的观测将约束行星形成的模型，有助于理解太阳系是如何形成的，包括我们自己的太阳系。这项工作将支持一名研究生，并将构成该学生在莱斯大学的博士论文的基础。该团队将购买并使用一台商用光谱仪，用于洛厄尔天文台每晚的公开宣传。他们还将为高中生提供使用该仪器的教育经验，以及研究生级别的观察课程。这项研究的目标是通过直接的光谱观测来表征系外行星的大气层。为了做到这一点，他们需要明确的目标。出于这个原因，他们将把重点放在被称为“热木星”的行星上：质量在木星质量或更大的行星，与其母恒星的轨道距离较近(在0.1AU以内)。他们将直接从这颗行星收集光线，通过其轨道跟踪这颗行星，并在各种分子谱线上进行观察。当一颗行星通过其轨道时，这些线会发生多普勒频移。行星的特征是通过它们相对于母星移动的更大的多普勒频移来识别的(因为行星移动得更多，并且受到更高程度的移动的影响)。该团队将使用IGRINS仪器，该仪器已经与包括洛厄尔4.3米和双子座北在内的各种大型望远镜配对。作为后备工具，他们还将在IRTF或其他需要的工具上使用ISHELL工具。这一裁决反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The team will conduct direct spectroscopic observations of large, nearby exoplanets with a high-resolution spectrometer. They will characterize the composition of the atmospheres of young “hot Jupiters” by direct observation. They will focus on abundances of common molecules such as carbon monoxide, methane and water. Their plan is to conduct the first-ever survey of the youngest massive exoplanets, still in the formation process. Their observations will constrain models of planet formation, helping to understand how solar systems form, including our own. This work will support a graduate student and will form the basis of that student’s PhD thesis at Rice University. The team will purchase and use a commercial spectrograph for nightly public outreach at Lowell Observatory. They will also develop educational experiences for high school students using the instrument as well as a graduate-level observation course.The goal of this research is to characterize the atmospheres of exoplanets through direct spectroscopic observations. In order to do this, they need bright targets. For this reason, they will focus on planets called “hot Jupiters:” planets of Jovian mass or greater that closely (within 0.1 AU) orbit their parent stars. They will be gathering light directly from the planet, following the planet through its orbit, and observing in a variety of molecular lines. As a planet moves through its orbit, those lines will be doppler shifted. The planetary features are identified through their larger doppler shifts relative to the shifts of the parent star (because the planet moves a great deal more and is subject to a higher degree of shifting). The team will use the IGRINS instrument, which has been mated with a variety of large telescopes including the Lowell 4.3 meter and Gemini North. As a backup instrument, they will also use the iSHELL instrument on IRTF or other instruments as needed.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.