Periodic Reporting for period 4 - EXO-ATMOS (Exploring the Plurality of New Worlds: Their Origins, Climate and Habitability)
Période du rapport: 2020-09-01 au 2023-02-28
The EXO-ATMOS ERC Starting Grant achieved significant advances in the field of exoplanet research by focusing on their atmospheres, climate dynamics, and the impact of stellar activity. The project addressed key challenges in characterizing exoplanetary diversity, climate and formation, focusing on hot Jupiters
Key achievements across three research programs (RPs) include:
--RP1: Pioneered techniques for detailed exoplanet atmosphere analysis, defining “ultra-hot Jupiters” as a new class and resolving discrepancies in their formation models. The team discovered trends linking atmospheric properties to planetary temperature and contributed to frameworks linking planet formation to atmospheric composition. Publications stemming from this work include detailed emission and transmission spectra analyses (e.g. WASP-18b studies).
--RP2: Developed innovative approaches to study global exo-climates, such as spectroscopic phase curves, providing insights into thermal structures and atmospheric circulation of hot Jupiters. The project allowed for the modeling of magnetic effects and other peculiarities in exoplanet atmospheres. The work prepared the field for transformational studies with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
--RP3: Examined the effects of stellar activity on planetary atmospheres, refining methods for evaluating stellar environment impacting planets. The project also innovated new methods for analyzing multi-object spectroscopic data, and enriched other RPs with complementary high-resolution spectroscopy
The grant also contributed to two key space missions: HST and Spitzer and two new ones: the JWST (e.g. Early Release Science program), advancing exoplanetary atmospheric studies, and the CUTE mission, demonstrating the utility of CubeSats in research.
In addition to scientific breakthroughs, the project impacted education, public outreach, and societal equity. It supported lectures, student programs like ASPIRE, and interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Amsterdam Center for Origins of Life. Public engagement included open days, school events, and collaborations with artists, ensuring broad dissemination of findings.
EXO-ATMOS significantly advanced planetary science, establishing new methodologies and laying the groundwork for future exoplanet exploration. Its findings and innovations resonate beyond academia, addressing humanity’s quest to understand the origins of life and habitability in the cosmos.
Key achievements across three research programs (RPs) include:
--RP1: Pioneered techniques for detailed exoplanet atmosphere analysis, defining “ultra-hot Jupiters” as a new class and resolving discrepancies in their formation models. The team discovered trends linking atmospheric properties to planetary temperature and contributed to frameworks linking planet formation to atmospheric composition. Publications stemming from this work include detailed emission and transmission spectra analyses (e.g. WASP-18b studies).
--RP2: Developed innovative approaches to study global exo-climates, such as spectroscopic phase curves, providing insights into thermal structures and atmospheric circulation of hot Jupiters. The project allowed for the modeling of magnetic effects and other peculiarities in exoplanet atmospheres. The work prepared the field for transformational studies with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
--RP3: Examined the effects of stellar activity on planetary atmospheres, refining methods for evaluating stellar environment impacting planets. The project also innovated new methods for analyzing multi-object spectroscopic data, and enriched other RPs with complementary high-resolution spectroscopy
The grant also contributed to two key space missions: HST and Spitzer and two new ones: the JWST (e.g. Early Release Science program), advancing exoplanetary atmospheric studies, and the CUTE mission, demonstrating the utility of CubeSats in research.
In addition to scientific breakthroughs, the project impacted education, public outreach, and societal equity. It supported lectures, student programs like ASPIRE, and interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Amsterdam Center for Origins of Life. Public engagement included open days, school events, and collaborations with artists, ensuring broad dissemination of findings.
EXO-ATMOS significantly advanced planetary science, establishing new methodologies and laying the groundwork for future exoplanet exploration. Its findings and innovations resonate beyond academia, addressing humanity’s quest to understand the origins of life and habitability in the cosmos.
The ERC project achieved significant milestones across three (RPs).
RP1: Atmospheric Characterization of Close-in Giants
The team advanced atmospheric studies using multi-object spectroscopy (MOS), HST/WFC3, and Spitzer observations. Key achievements included defining Ultra-Hot Jupiters (UHJs) as a distinct planetary class and revealing trends such as the absence of methane in cooler planets and variations in thermal inversions, metallicity, and C/O ratios. Innovations in data analysis, including Gaussian Processes for MOS and algorithms for spectral extraction, enabled precise retrievals of planetary parameters. The development of codes, linking atmospheric retrievals to planetary formation. Groundbreaking findings were published in high-impact journals, forming a robust foundation for comparative exoplanetology.
RP2: Atmospheric Dynamics and JWST Preparation
Focused on atmospheric dynamics, the team conducted spectroscopic phase curve studies of UHJs like WASP-18b, producing the first phase-resolved spectroscopic maps and thermal structure constraints of such planets. Important physical properties were unveiled that drive their atmospheric dynamics. Preparations for JWST included simulations, leadership roles in the Early Release Science (ERS) Transit Spectroscopy program, and the first transit spectroscopy datasets, enabling detailed molecular and structural analyses of exoplanet atmospheres. These efforts culminated in 14 publications in Nature and many others, establishing benchmarks for JWST’s exoplanet science capabilities.
RP3: Stellar Activity and Adaptations
Delayed JWST operations shifted RP3 towards high-resolution spectroscopy, extending insights from RP1 and RP2. UV data and long-term stellar photometry informed studies of stellar radiation effects on habitability, with significant contributions from students. Although synchronous JWST follow-ups were limited, the project expanded its scope to include additional observational techniques, including high resolution spectroscopy.
Overall Impact
The project delivered transformative results in exoplanet science, innovating methodologies and enabling critical discoveries. It defined UHJs’ atmospheric properties, leveraged JWST’s potential, and established a comparative framework for future research. Collaborative efforts and a vast body of published work solidified the project's influence in advancing planetary characterization and science and astronomy.
RP1: Atmospheric Characterization of Close-in Giants
The team advanced atmospheric studies using multi-object spectroscopy (MOS), HST/WFC3, and Spitzer observations. Key achievements included defining Ultra-Hot Jupiters (UHJs) as a distinct planetary class and revealing trends such as the absence of methane in cooler planets and variations in thermal inversions, metallicity, and C/O ratios. Innovations in data analysis, including Gaussian Processes for MOS and algorithms for spectral extraction, enabled precise retrievals of planetary parameters. The development of codes, linking atmospheric retrievals to planetary formation. Groundbreaking findings were published in high-impact journals, forming a robust foundation for comparative exoplanetology.
RP2: Atmospheric Dynamics and JWST Preparation
Focused on atmospheric dynamics, the team conducted spectroscopic phase curve studies of UHJs like WASP-18b, producing the first phase-resolved spectroscopic maps and thermal structure constraints of such planets. Important physical properties were unveiled that drive their atmospheric dynamics. Preparations for JWST included simulations, leadership roles in the Early Release Science (ERS) Transit Spectroscopy program, and the first transit spectroscopy datasets, enabling detailed molecular and structural analyses of exoplanet atmospheres. These efforts culminated in 14 publications in Nature and many others, establishing benchmarks for JWST’s exoplanet science capabilities.
RP3: Stellar Activity and Adaptations
Delayed JWST operations shifted RP3 towards high-resolution spectroscopy, extending insights from RP1 and RP2. UV data and long-term stellar photometry informed studies of stellar radiation effects on habitability, with significant contributions from students. Although synchronous JWST follow-ups were limited, the project expanded its scope to include additional observational techniques, including high resolution spectroscopy.
Overall Impact
The project delivered transformative results in exoplanet science, innovating methodologies and enabling critical discoveries. It defined UHJs’ atmospheric properties, leveraged JWST’s potential, and established a comparative framework for future research. Collaborative efforts and a vast body of published work solidified the project's influence in advancing planetary characterization and science and astronomy.
Progress Beyond the State of the Art have been made in different aspects:
--Ultra-Hot Jupiters (UHJs): This project defined UHJs as a new exoplanet class, highlighting their star-like atmospheric properties and revealing solar-like metallicities, countering prior findings inconsistent with formation scenarios. The term spurred hundreds of follow-up studies, shaping the field.
--Atmospheric and Formation Trends: Statistical analysis revealed temperature-dependent atmospheric properties of giant planets and refined the mass-metallicity relationship, enhancing understanding of planet formation mechanisms.
--Advanced Atmospheric Retrieval and Data Analysis:
Developed techniques for high-resolution spectroscopy, Gaussian Processes (GP)-based methods, and phase curve analyses, enabling innovative atmospheric insights.
Enhanced multi-object spectroscopic (MOS) data analysis, broadening applicability to bright stars and improving precision. Contributed to improving retrievals and to extracting formation properties directly from atmospheric retrievals, linking exoplanet atmospheres to their origins.
--Theoretical Advances: Novel research explored atmospheric dynamics, including magnetic field effects on wind patterns and compositional changes with longitude, offering transformative insights. Also included theoretical research on planet formation, atmospheric physics and evolution.
--JWST Early Release Science (ERS) Leadership: The project leveraged JWST’s wider infrared range and higher precision, enabling landmark discoveries such as detailed molecular detections (water, CO2 , methane), photochemistry, and cloud/haze characterizations. These results have refined atmospheric models, setting benchmarks for future research.
--CUTE Mission Impact: The CubeSat-based mission demonstrated the potential of cost-efficient technology for ultraviolet spectroscopy, uncovering star-planet interactions.
--Education and Outreach at UvA: Created a collaborative & inclusive environment. Integrated findings into education (e.g. “How to Design an Alien”) and public engagement through talks, articles, and accessible resources. The ASPIRE program supported underprivileged students, while partnerships with AMCOOL and FAEME expanded research on life’s origins.
--Expected Results: i)Further explore UHJs and comparative frameworks. ii)Enhance JWST data analysis and dissemination. iii)Train early-career researchers in cutting-edge methods while fostering broader public interest in space science.
--Ultra-Hot Jupiters (UHJs): This project defined UHJs as a new exoplanet class, highlighting their star-like atmospheric properties and revealing solar-like metallicities, countering prior findings inconsistent with formation scenarios. The term spurred hundreds of follow-up studies, shaping the field.
--Atmospheric and Formation Trends: Statistical analysis revealed temperature-dependent atmospheric properties of giant planets and refined the mass-metallicity relationship, enhancing understanding of planet formation mechanisms.
--Advanced Atmospheric Retrieval and Data Analysis:
Developed techniques for high-resolution spectroscopy, Gaussian Processes (GP)-based methods, and phase curve analyses, enabling innovative atmospheric insights.
Enhanced multi-object spectroscopic (MOS) data analysis, broadening applicability to bright stars and improving precision. Contributed to improving retrievals and to extracting formation properties directly from atmospheric retrievals, linking exoplanet atmospheres to their origins.
--Theoretical Advances: Novel research explored atmospheric dynamics, including magnetic field effects on wind patterns and compositional changes with longitude, offering transformative insights. Also included theoretical research on planet formation, atmospheric physics and evolution.
--JWST Early Release Science (ERS) Leadership: The project leveraged JWST’s wider infrared range and higher precision, enabling landmark discoveries such as detailed molecular detections (water, CO2 , methane), photochemistry, and cloud/haze characterizations. These results have refined atmospheric models, setting benchmarks for future research.
--CUTE Mission Impact: The CubeSat-based mission demonstrated the potential of cost-efficient technology for ultraviolet spectroscopy, uncovering star-planet interactions.
--Education and Outreach at UvA: Created a collaborative & inclusive environment. Integrated findings into education (e.g. “How to Design an Alien”) and public engagement through talks, articles, and accessible resources. The ASPIRE program supported underprivileged students, while partnerships with AMCOOL and FAEME expanded research on life’s origins.
--Expected Results: i)Further explore UHJs and comparative frameworks. ii)Enhance JWST data analysis and dissemination. iii)Train early-career researchers in cutting-edge methods while fostering broader public interest in space science.