Accessing Atmospheric Properties of Terrestrial Exoplanets: Ground-Based Observations of Rayleigh Scattering and Extended Atmospheres

该项目将开发观测太阳系外行星大气层的新技术，这些行星位于类地行星的边界，即所谓的超级地球（质量小于10个地球质量）。研究人员还将观测质量大得多的系外行星，包括那些离主恒星足够近，其大部分大气正在逃逸的系外行星。他们将使用多目标或积分场仪器对瑞利散射进行宽带（低光谱分辨率）观测，并对系外行星目标的h- α线进行高光谱分辨率透射光谱观测。他们将使用各种光学和红外观测站，如凯克、WIYN和霍比-埃伯利望远镜（HET）。瑞利散射是类地行星在光学上的主要大气特征，被认为是评估红外观测的关键。对两条氢线发射的测量将提供基本的物理和形态学测量，这将有助于解释一些系外行星的质量损失特征。更广泛的影响包括麦克唐纳天文台的公共推广项目，以及德克萨斯州的年度教师专业发展研讨会，这些研讨会纳入了研究并符合国家科学教育标准。本科生和研究生以及一名博士后也将接受该项目的研究培训。

This project will develop new techniques for observing atmospheres of extrasolar planets with at the terrestrial planet boundary, the so-called Super-Earths (mass less than 10 Earth masses). The investigators will also observe exoplanets with much higher masses, including those which are near enough to the host star that much of their atmospheres is escaping. They will conduct broadband (low spectral resolution) observations of Rayleigh scattering using multi-object or integral-field instruments, and high-spectral resolution transmission spectroscopy of H-alpha lines in exoplanet targets. They will use various optical and infrared observatories, such as the Keck, WIYN and Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET). Rayleigh scattering is the dominant atmospheric signature of terrestrial planets in the optical, and is considered critical to evaluating infrared observations. The measurements of the emission from two hydrogen lines would provide fundamental physical and morphological measurements that would help explain the mass loss characteristics of some exoplanets. Broader impacts include a public outreach program at McDonald Observatory, and annual teacher professional development workshops in Texas, which incorporate the research and conform to National Science Education Standards. Undergraduate and graduate students and a postdoctoral scholar will also receive research training on this project.