Study of optical processes in the atmospheres of exoplanets and their feasibility of observations

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We formulated light propagation in the atmospheres of exoplanets in transit and derived a formula of an angle of refraction for light rays propagating through the atmosphere. The formula provides precise values even for the rays incident with small impact parameters onto the atmosphere. We proposed a method of estimating a scale height of an atmosphere from a light curve at a transition of an exoplanet in front of a central star. Systematic calculations of ray tracing are carried out for the rays passing through model atmospheres under isothermal hydrostatic equilibrium with varying wavelength of the light rays, and discussion was made on apparent increase in the radius of a planet in transition. The results are applied to the observation of Galilean satellites, which are observed through the atmosphere of Jupiter. Analysis of the observation indicates that the theory roughly explains the observation but suggests the presence of some effect that is not taken into account in the theory.