High-resolution spectroscopy: A powerful tool for characterizing exoplanets and their atmospheres
Henriette Schwarz
University of California Santa Cruz


The characterization of an exoplanet atmosphere can reveal the chemical composition of the atmosphere, its reflective properties, the presence of condensates, its temperature structure, and possible rotation and global circulation. Those may be linked to the formation and evolutionary history of the planet, and are needed to understand its global climate. Ground-based high-dispersion spectroscopy has proven to be an effective method to probe the atmospheres of both transiting and non-transiting hot Jupiters, as well as young, wide-orbit gas giants discovered with direct imaging. With a sufficiently high spectral resolution, the molecular features are resolved into individual lines. This allows robust identification of the molecules through line matching with template spectra. Additional insight is gained from the shape of the spectral lines.

Date: Jeudi, le 4 avril 2019
Heure: 11:30
Lieu: Université de Montréal
  Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, Local D-460
Contact: Björn Benneke