Impact parameter and stellar activity - implications for exoplanetary transmission spectroscopy: prospective analysis on future targets of ARIEL space telescope; and an in-depth investigation of the small planet radius gap

• Grant number: 24/03652-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: June 10, 2024
• End date: May 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Stellar Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Benetti Marques Valio
• Grantee: Viktor Yuri Doná Sumida
• Supervisor: Mark Swain
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia (EE). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/14897-9 - Exoplanets atmospheres: the impact of stellar activity on the transmission spectra, BP.DR

Abstract

Transmission spectroscopy proves highly effective in probing and measuring the composition and properties of exoplanet atmospheres. Successfully applied to a plethora of exoplanets, primarily using HST and JWST, this technique demands dedicated modeling efforts to grasp the wavelength-dependent luminosity of the occulted star, which was the primary focus in the initial phase of the PhD research.In this forthcoming BEPE project, our objectives are twofold. Initially, we aim to integrate the code ECLIPSE-X$\lambda$ into the EXoplanet CALIbration and Bayesian Unified Retrieval (EXCALIBUR) science data pipeline and execute it across the entire Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey (ARIEL) target catalog, exploring the full range of orbital parameter uncertainties in our spot forward models. The precision of determining the impact parameter for a transiting exoplanet is crucial, as it directly influences the interpretation of transmission spectra. Transitioning to the project's second phase, we will delve into the study of a prominent feature in the exoplanet radius distribution-the Fulton gap. Utilizing the extensive data-set from the NASA Exoplanet Archive, our investigation seeks to answer a fundamental question: Do transitional exoplanets exhibit Earth-like, Venus-like characteristics, or are they remnants of gas- or ice-giants? This comprehensive study aims to shed light on the nature of exoplanets within this intriguing radius range and contribute valuable insights to our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. (AU)