High-Definition Exo-Atmospheric Characterization with Transit Spectroscopy

High-Definition Exo-Atmospheric Characterization with Transit Spectroscopy High-Definition Exo-Atmospheric Characterization with Transit Spectroscopy High-Definition Exo-Atmospheric Characterization with Transit Spectroscopy The focus of the proposed research program continues to be the development of new methods and analysis frameworks for the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres using transmission spectroscopy. The research objectives aim to provide a systematic exploration of novel atmospheric model considerations, and to develop a data-driven modelling hierarchy to reliably interpret current and imminent exo-atmospheric datasets. There are four science goals in this research project: 1) Develop a multidimensional retrieval framework for exoplanet transmission spectra that considers multi-dimensional effects, 2) implement different parametric prescriptions for the treatment of clouds and hazes in atmospheric models, 3) introduce new statistical tools for evaluating and comparing atmospheric models, and 4) identify the data and model requirements for robustly constraining the atmospheric properties of exoplanets using the advancements introduced in science goals 1 to 3. During the second year of the fellowship the focus of the research project will be to expand science goal 1 from two-dimensional to three-dimensional effects and complete science goals 2 and 4. Advanced computer systems will be used to incorporate multidimensional models of exoplanet atmospheres into atmospheric retrieval frameworks. Using these advanced frameworks, I will explore the geometries that allow atmospheric models to capture exoplanet inhomogeneities fulfilling goal 1. By participating in different workshops focused on the impact of cloud and hazes, I will start implementing different parametric prescriptions for clouds and hazes in exoplanet atmospheres, effectively fulfilling science goal 2. With these research goals fulfilled, science goal #4 will commence. These efforts will prepare me for the third year of the fellowship. No unusual aspects of data reduction or analysis are expected. The main software packages will be open-source or proprietary tools to which I have access. Initially, no resources will be directly developed or obtained from previous HST/JWST programs.