From spectra to atmospheres: solving the underconstrained retrieval problem for exoplanets. Issue Volume 8:Issue S299(2013) (6th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barstow, Joanna K.; Aigrain, Suzanne; Irwin, Patrick G. J.; Bowles, Neil; Fletcher, Leigh N.; Lee, Jae-Min
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 8:Issue S299(2013)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2014-01-06
• Subjects: radiative transfer, -- methods: data analysis, -- planets and satellites: individual; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921313008569
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: Spectroscopic observations of transiting exoplanets have provided the first indications of their atmospheric structure and composition. Optimal estimation retrievals have been successfully applied to solar system planets to determine the temperature, composition and aerosol properties of their atmospheres, and have recently been applied to exoplanets. We show the effectiveness of the technique when combined with simulated observations from the proposed space telescope EChO, and also discuss the difficulty of constraining a complex system with sparse data and large uncertainties, using the super-Earth GJ 1214b as an example.