Project Details
Projekt
CARMENES Transmission Spectroscopy of Planetary Atmospheres
Applicants
Dr. Lisa Nortmann; Dr. Andreas Schweitzer
Subject Area
Astrophysics and Astronomy
Term
since 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 314665159
Most known exoplanets orbit very close to their host star. Therefore, their atmospheres can only be studied indirectly. This is done most successfully with transmission spectroscopy of transiting planets. In this project we will use existing and planned CARMENES observations made during the transits of several exoplanets to analyse their atmospheres. The high resolution of the CARMENES measurements will allow us to separate stellar and telluric signals from those of the planet. Our study will include lines that form in the deeper atmosphere, but also lines that have recently been shown to allow us to study the planetaryexosphere and atmospheric loss with ground-based measurements. We will also study the dynamics of the planetary atmosphere manifested in jet streams or similar dynamic effects by measuring the velocity of the absorbing gas in different phases of the planetary transit. To fully interpret such measurements, in particular the lines formed in deeper regions, we will use synthetic PHOENIX/3D spectra based on suitable model atmospheres. By comparing the observations with our models we will be able to quantify the significanceof NLTE, clouds, abundance patterns or circulation effects. Such analyses are only possible if the large wavelength coverage of CARMENES is combined with state-of-the-art 3D modelling.
DFG Programme
Research Units
