Project description
Redefining our understanding of exoplanet interiors
Determining the diversity of exoplanet compositions and structures is essential for understanding Earth’s uniqueness, yet current observations only reveal limited information. Ground-based and space-based instruments provide data on exoplanet masses, radii, and atmospheres, but not their interiors. This lack of detailed interior information hinders our ability to grasp their geological evolution. Traditional models based on Earth-like compositions fall short as stellar data suggest a broader compositional diversity. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ExoDivers project explores the stability of minerals in exotic exoplanet compositions under extreme conditions. By using spectroscopic data from host stars, ExoDivers will simulate the internal environments of these planets, refining our understanding of their mineralogy and geological processes.
Objective
Determining the diversity of exoplanets' compositions and structure is fundamental for investigating the Earth's uniqueness. The improvement of ground-based instruments and the launch of new space missions (e.g. JWST) is providing unprecedented information as to exoplanets' masses, radii and atmospheric speciation. However, none of these properties can uniquely constrain the nature of planetary interiors, which dictate their geological evolution. In order to interpret these new observations and identify future exoplanet targets, the implementation of accurate interior models is required. At present, much of our knowledge on exoplanets' interior comes from analogue experiments on Earth-like compositions performed over pressure-temperature-composition spaces relevant for the Solar System. Stellar data, however, has indicated a greater compositional diversity than in our own Solar System, thereby preventing an accurate description of the mineralogy and structure of orbiting planets. ExoDivers aims to bridge the gap between astronomical observations and the interior properties of exoplanets, by investigating the evolution of stable mineralogical assemblages for exotic compositions expected in exoplanetary cores and mantles with pressure and temperature. The experimental bulk compositions will derive from spectroscopic data of observed host stars, providing access to a compositional space that remains yet unstudied. Experiments will be performed to determine the stability of different minerals and refine their thermodynamic properties. These new data will supplement existing databases and will be used to calculate the mantle and core mineralogy of exoplanets. This novel approach obviates the Earth-centric view of exoplanets mineralogy that has characterized the field up to this point and will be implemented to determine, a priori, how variations in the interior affect geological processes, including the possibility of starting convection or activating a dynamo.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets exoplanetology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
27100 Pavia
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.