ExoTiC-3DWebb: Exoplanet Timeseries Characterisation: Unlocking the Third Dimension of Atmospheres with Webb

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Exoplanets are at the forefront of public interest in space and have emerged as a leading scientific field of study. With nearly 5,000 worlds now discovered beyond our solar system it is important to not only know that they are there but also to discover their true nature: Do they have an atmosphere and what is it made from? How did they form? Are these worlds like those in our solar system? And ultimately, is life unique to our planet? The recent launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) marks a new era of exoplanet characterisation providing high precision and resolution spectra in the infrared (IR) beyond the reach of current studies and where key gases like H2O, CO, CO2, and CH4 can be measured. As a member of guaranteed time observations on Webb and through competitively awarded observing programs I have a plethora of data at my disposal. My proposed data analysis an interpretation programme will be crucial toplace our habitable world in a Galactic context. This ERC project is broken down into three work packages based on guaranteed data: 1) construct a 3D map of a quintessential hot Jupiter from 0.6-14 micrometre IR transmission and emission observations, 2) make the first direct measurements of aerosol compositions in exoplanet atmospheres, 3) evaluate the transition from primordial to secondary atmospheres over the mini-Neptune/super-Earth radius boundary. These work packages will be supported by four key goals: develop software for high fidelity spectroscopic data reduction, measure and interpret the composition of planetary atmospheres including the effect of aerosols, design methods to resolve the 3D structure of exoplanet atmospheres and use these data to make predictions for future studies and missions. To complete this ambitious project, I will recruit two postdoctoral researchers to my group at the University of Bristol where we will develop tools, techniques, and foundational datasets that will set the stage for exoplanet research in the era of Webb.