Coupling the inflated interiors, atmospheric dynamics, and mineral clouds of hot and ultra-hot Jupiters

by Dr Thaddeus Komacek (University of Maryland)

Tuesday 15 Aug 2023, 10:00 → 11:00 Asia/Shanghai

TDLI

Abstract

The recent launch of JWST promises detailed characterization of hot gaseous exoplanets through emission and transmission spectroscopy observations. In this talk, I will discuss the current understanding of the atmospheric circulation of hot gaseous exoplanets ("hot Jupiters’’) as determined from interpreting astronomical observation with a combination of analytic theory and general circulation modeling. I will introduce the hottest gaseous exoplanets, "ultra-hot Jupiters,’’ as a novel extreme class of exoplanet characterized by thermal dissociation of molecules and patchy mineral cloud coverage. I will describe three-dimensional models that include the internal heat fluxes that lead to radius inflation, and demonstrate their impact on atmospheric properties observable via phase curves. I will finally discuss how mineral clouds are expected to impact the observable properties of even the hottest gaseous exoplanets.

Biography

Dr. Thaddeus (“Tad”) Komacek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Maryland, College Park. Previously, Tad held a Heising-Simons 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Chicago from 2018-2021. He received his Ph.D in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in 2018, and bachelor’s degrees in Geophysical Sciences and Physics from the University of Chicago in 2013. Dr. Komacek’s research focuses on characterizing the atmospheres of exoplanets by developing theoretical and numerical models for their global circulation and climate.

Chair

Xianyu Tan

Division

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Other information

Location: N602

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Meeting ID: 650370227