Collaborative Research: Characterizing Cloudy Exoplanet Atmospheres

Dordt University, Incorporated, Sioux Center IA

Investigators

Abstract

This collaborative project is a theoretical effort to model cloudy atmospheres of extrasolar planets. The models will be constrained by direct images of exoplanets produced by the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) and other surveys. The researchers will focus on non-equilibrium chemistry, cloud physics, atmospheric structure and predict emission spectra of the planets. They will also use the direct imaging data to determine atmospheric effective temperature, surface gravity and composition. Broader impacts include contributions to university public web pages on science topics, videos called "Science Bulletin Features" produced by the American Museum of Natural History, and mentoring and supervising a female graduate student in her Ph.D. dissertation research.