PI: Leonardo Dos Santos, ldsantos@stsci.edu, webpage
Group: Transiting Exoplanets Group
Publications: ADS
Project abstract: Atmospheric escape is one of the most important processes that shape the evolution of short-period exoplanets, and one of the most active sub-fields of exoplanet science at the moment. I have projects that lean towards both observations and modeling, and are described below:
Impact of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect in transmission spectroscopy: The student will work on an open-source code that calculates the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect for transiting exoplanets and use this code to evaluate the impact on high- and low-resolution transmission spectroscopy, particularly for atmospheric escape observations. Project duration: 1st year rotation.
Data reduction of Keck/NIRSPEC spectra: This project will analyze spectral time-series observations of exoplanet transits to measure their high-resolution transmission spectra and search for signals of atmospheric escape. Project duration: Rotation with potential for a thesis project.
Determining the high-energy spectra of planet-hosting stars: The student will apply the Differential Emission Measure (DEM) technique to estimate the high-energy spectra of stars that host known evaporating exoplanets, or those that are expect to produce outflows. When there is not enough data available for the DEM technique, the student will work on identifying the best proxies for these stars that have a known high-energy spectrum. Project duration: 1st year rotation.
Atmospheric escape modeling for HST and JWST observations: This project will produce theoretical models of transmission spectra of planets observed with HST and JWST with the objective of inferring the properties of their upper atmospheres. The student will be involved in the TUNES collaboration. Project duration: Rotation with potential for a thesis project.
Outcomes: All projects are expected to produce at least one peer-reviewed paper at its end. Depending on the pace of the project, the student might also be invited to team up with other collaborators as co-authors in other studies. If the project is observation-oriented, the student is expected to develop at least one observing proposal for ground- or space-based facilities.
Figure 1. Modeling of metastable helium in the atmosphere of an evaporating exoplanet and fitting them to observations
Figure 2. Rossiter-McLaughlin effect in two transiting exoplanets (Triaud 2017)
