Exoplanetary science is on the verge of an unprecedented revolution. The thousands of exoplanets discovered over the past decade have most recently been supplemented by discoveries of potentially ...habitable planets around nearby low-mass stars. Currently, the field is rapidly progressing toward detailed spectroscopic observations to characterize the atmospheres of these planets. Various surveys from space and the ground are expected to detect numerous more exoplanets orbiting nearby stars that make the planets conducive for atmospheric characterization. The current state of this frontier of exoplanetary atmospheres may be summarized as follows.
We have entered the era of comparative exoplanetology thanks to high-fidelity atmospheric observations now available for tens of exoplanets.
Recent studies reveal a rich diversity of chemical compositions and atmospheric processes hitherto unseen in the Solar System.
Elemental abundances of exoplanetary atmospheres place important constraints on exoplanetary formation and migration histories.
Upcoming observational facilities promise to revolutionize exoplanetary spectroscopy down to rocky exoplanets.
The detection of a biosignature in an exoplanetary atmosphere is conceivable over the next decade.
In the present review, we discuss the modern and future landscape of this frontier area of exoplanetary atmospheres. We start with a brief review of the area, emphasising the key insights gained from different observationalmethods and theoretical studies. This is followed by an in-depth discussion of the state of the art, challenges, and future prospects in three forefront branches of the area.
Accurate estimations of atmospheric properties of exoplanets from transmission spectra require the understanding of degeneracies between model parameters and observations that can resolve them. We ...conduct a systematic investigation of such degeneracies using a combination of detailed atmospheric retrievals and a range of model assumptions, focusing on H2-rich atmospheres. As a case study, we consider the well-studied hot Jupiter HD 209458 b. We perform extensive retrievals with models ranging from simple isothermal and isobaric atmospheres to those with full pressure-temperature profiles, inhomogeneous cloud/haze coverage, multiple-molecular species, and data in the optical-infrared wavelengths. Our study reveals four key insights. First, we find that a combination of models with minimal assumptions and broadband transmission spectra with current facilities allows precise estimates of chemical abundances. In particular, high-precision optical and infrared spectra, along with models including variable cloud coverage and prominent opacity sources, with Na and K being important in the optical, provide joint constraints on cloud/haze properties and chemical abundances. Second, we show that the degeneracy between planetary radius and its reference pressure is well characterized and has little effect on abundance estimates, contrary to previous claims using semi-analytic models. Third, collision-induced absorption due to H2-H2 and H2-He interactions plays a critical role in correctly estimating atmospheric abundances. Finally, our results highlight the inadequacy of simplified semi-analytic models with isobaric assumptions for reliable retrievals of transmission spectra. Transmission spectra obtained with current facilities such as the Hubble Space Telescope and Very Large Telescope can provide strong constraints on atmospheric abundances of exoplanets.
Abstract
The complexity of atmospheric retrieval models is largely data-driven, and one-dimensional models have generally been considered adequate with current data quality. However, recent studies ...have suggested that using 1D models in retrievals can result in anomalously cool terminator temperatures and biased abundance estimates even with existing transmission spectra of hot Jupiters. Motivated by these claims and upcoming high-quality transmission spectra, we systematically explore the limitations of 1D models using synthetic and current observations. We use 1D models of varying complexity, both analytic and numerical, to revisit claims of biases when interpreting transmission spectra of hot Jupiters with inhomogeneous terminator compositions. Overall, we find the reported biases to be resulting from specific model assumptions rather than intrinsic limitations of 1D atmospheric models in retrieving current observations of asymmetric terminators. Additionally, we revise atmospheric retrievals of the hot Jupiter WASP-43b (
T
eq
= 1440 K) and the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-103b (
T
eq
= 2484 K), for which previous studies inferred abnormally cool atmospheric temperatures. We retrieve temperatures consistent with expectations. We note, however, that in the limit of extreme terminator inhomogeneities and high data quality, some atmospheric inferences may conceivably be biased—although to a lesser extent than previously claimed. To address such cases, we implement a 2D retrieval framework for transmission spectra that allows accurate constraints on average atmospheric properties and provides insights into the spectral ranges where the imprints of atmospheric inhomogeneities are strongest. Our study highlights the need for careful considerations of model assumptions and data quality before attributing biases in retrieved estimates to unaccounted atmospheric inhomogeneities.
Abstract
Atmospheric retrievals of exoplanetary transmission spectra provide important constraints on various properties, such as chemical abundances, cloud/haze properties, and characteristic ...temperatures, at the day–night atmospheric terminator. To date, most spectra have been observed for giant exoplanets due to which retrievals typically assume hydrogen-rich atmospheres. However, recent observations of mini Neptunes/super-Earths, and the promise of upcoming facilities including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), call for a new generation of retrievals that can address a wide range of atmospheric compositions and related complexities. Here we report Aurora, a next-generation atmospheric retrieval framework that builds upon state-of-the-art architectures and incorporates the following key advancements: (a) a generalized compositional retrieval allowing for H-rich and H-poor atmospheres, (b) a generalized prescription for inhomogeneous clouds/hazes, (c) multiple Bayesian inference algorithms for high-dimensional retrievals, (d) modular considerations for refraction, forward scattering, and Mie scattering, and (e) noise modeling functionalities. We demonstrate Aurora on current and/or synthetic observations of the hot Jupiter HD 209458 b, mini Neptune K2-18b, and rocky exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 d. Using current HD 209458 b spectra, we demonstrate the robustness of our framework and cloud/haze prescription against assumptions of H-rich/H-poor atmospheres, improving on previous treatments. Using real and synthetic spectra of K2-18b, we demonstrate an agnostic approach to confidently constrain its bulk atmospheric composition and obtain precise abundance estimates. For TRAPPIST-1 d, 10 JWST-NIRSpec transits can enable identification of the main atmospheric component for cloud-free, CO
2
-rich, and N
2
-rich atmospheres and abundance constraints on trace gases, including initial indications of O
3
if present at enhanced levels (∼10×–100× Earth levels).
Abstract
High-resolution spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful avenue for atmospheric remote sensing of exoplanets. Recently, ESO commissioned the CRIRES+ high-resolution infrared spectrograph at ...the Very Large Telescope. CRIRES+ is a cross-dispersed spectrograph with high throughput and wide wavelength coverage across the near-infrared (0.95–5.3
μ
m), designed to be particularly suited for atmospheric characterization of exoplanets. In this work, we report early insights into the performance of CRIRES+ for exoplanet spectroscopy and conduct a detailed assessment of the data reduction procedure. Because of the novelty of the instrument, we perform two independent data reduction strategies using the official CR2RES pipeline and our new custom-built ExoRES pipeline. Using science verification observations we find that the spectral resolving power of CRIRES+ can reach
R
≳ 100,000 for optimal observing conditions. Similarly, we find the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) to be consistent with expected and empirical estimates for the observations considered. As a case study, we perform the first application of CRIRES+ to the atmospheric characterization of an exoplanet—the ultrahot Jupiter MASCARA-1 b. We detect CO and H
2
O in the atmosphere of MASCARA-1 b at a S/N of 12.9 and 5.3, respectively, and a temperature inversion revealed through the CO and H
2
O emission lines, the first for an exoplanet. We find a combined S/N of 13.8 for CO and H
2
O together, with a preference for lower H
2
O abundance compared to CO. Our findings demonstrate the scientific potential of CRIRES+ and highlight the excellent opportunity for high-resolution atmospheric spectroscopy of diverse exoplanets.
Abstract
Transmission spectra of exoplanetary atmospheres have been used to infer the presence of clouds/hazes. Such inferences are typically based on spectral slopes in the optical deviant from ...gaseous Rayleigh scattering or low-amplitude spectral features in the infrared. We investigate three observable metrics that could allow constraints on cloud properties from transmission spectra, namely the optical slope, the uniformity of this slope and condensate features in the infrared. We derive these metrics using model transmission spectra considering Mie extinction from a wide range of condensate species, particle sizes and scaleheights. First, we investigate possible degeneracies among the cloud properties for an observed slope. We find, for example, that spectra with very steep optical slopes suggest sulphide clouds (e.g. MnS, ZnS, Na2S) in the atmospheres. Secondly, (non)uniformities in optical slopes provide additional constraints on cloud properties, e.g. MnS, ZnS, TiO2 and Fe2O3 have significantly non-uniform slopes. Thirdly, infrared spectra provide an additional powerful probe into cloud properties, with SiO2, Fe2O3, Mg2SiO4 and MgSiO3 bearing strong infrared features observable with James Webb Space Telescope. We investigate observed spectra of eight hot Jupiters and discuss their implications. In particular, no single or composite condensate species considered here conforms to the steep and non-uniform optical slope observed for HD 189733b. Our work highlights the importance of the three above metrics to investigate cloud properties in exoplanetary atmospheres using high-precision transmission spectra and detailed cloud models. We make our Mie scattering data for condensates publicly available to the community.
Abstract
Interpretations of exoplanetary transmission spectra have been undermined by apparent obscuration due to clouds/hazes. Debate rages on whether weak H2O features seen in exoplanet spectra are ...due to clouds or inherently depleted oxygen. Assertions of solar H2O abundances have relied on making a priori model assumptions, for example, chemical/radiative equilibrium. In this work, we attempt to address this problem with a new retrieval paradigm for transmission spectra. We introduce poseidon, a two-dimensional atmospheric retrieval algorithm including generalized inhomogeneous clouds. We demonstrate that this prescription allows one to break vital degeneracies between clouds and prominent molecular abundances. We apply poseidon to the best transmission spectrum presently available, for the hot Jupiter HD 209458b, uncovering new insights into its atmosphere at the day–night terminator. We extensively explore the parameter space with an unprecedented 108 models, spanning the continuum from fully cloudy to cloud-free atmospheres, in a fully Bayesian retrieval framework. We report the first detection of nitrogen chemistry (NH3 and/or HCN) in an exoplanet atmosphere at 3.7–7.7σ confidence, non-uniform cloud coverage at 4.5–5.4σ, high-altitude hazes at >3σ and sub-solar H2O at ≳3–5σ, depending on the assumed cloud distribution. We detect NH3 at 3.3σ, and 4.9σ for fully cloudy and cloud-free scenarios, respectively. For the model with the highest Bayesian evidence, we constrain H2O at 5–15 ppm (0.01–0.03) × solar and NH3 at 0.01–2.7 ppm, strongly suggesting disequilibrium chemistry and cautioning against equilibrium assumptions. Our results herald a new promise for retrieving cloudy atmospheres using high-precision Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope spectra.
Abstract
Atmospheric chemical abundances of giant planets lead to important constraints on planetary formation and migration. Studies have shown that giant planets that migrate through the ...protoplanetary disc can accrete substantial amounts of oxygen-rich planetesimals, leading to supersolar metallicities in the envelope and solar or subsolar C/O ratios. Pebble accretion has been demonstrated to play an important role in core accretion and to have growth rates that are consistent with planetary migration. The high pebble accretion rates allow planetary cores to start their growth beyond 10 au and subsequently migrate to cold (≳1 au), warm (∼0.1–1 au) or hot (≲0.1 au) orbits. In this work we investigate how the formation of giant planets via pebble accretion influences their atmospheric chemical compositions. We find that under the standard pebble accretion scenario, where the core is isolated from the envelope, the resulting metallicities (O/H and C/H ratios) are subsolar, while the C/O ratios are supersolar. Planets that migrate through the disc to become hot Jupiters accrete substantial amounts of water vapour, but still acquire slightly subsolar O/H and supersolar C/O of 0.7–0.8. The metallicity can be substantially subsolar (∼0.2–0.5 × solar) and the C/O can even approach 1.0 if the planet accretes its envelope mostly beyond the CO2 ice line, i.e. cold Jupiters or hot Jupiters that form far out and migrate in by scattering. Allowing for core erosion yields significantly supersolar metallicities and solar or subsolar C/O, which can also be achieved by other means, e.g. photoevaporation and late-stage planetesimal accretion.
Atmospheres of a number of ultra-hot Jupiters (UHJs) with temperatures 2000 K have been observed recently. Many of these planets show largely featureless thermal spectra in the near-infrared observed ...with the HST WFC3 spectrograph (1.1-1.7 m) even though this spectral range contains strong H2O opacity. Recent works have proposed the possibility of H- opacity masking the H2O feature and/or thermal dissociation of H2O causing its apparent depletion at the high temperatures of UHJs. In this work, we test these hypotheses using observations of the exoplanet WASP-18b as a case study. We report detailed atmospheric retrievals of the planet using the HyDRA retrieval code, extended to include the effects of H- opacity and thermal dissociation. We report constraints on the H2O, CO, and H- abundances as well as the pressure-temperature profile of the dayside atmosphere for retrievals with and without H-/dissociation for each data set. We find that the H2O and H- abundances are relatively unconstrained given the featureless WFC3 spectra. We do not conclusively detect H- in the planet, contrary to previous studies that used equilibrium models to infer its presence. The constraint on the CO abundance depends on the combination of WFC3 and Spitzer data, ranging from solar to super-solar CO values. We additionally see signs of a thermal inversion from two of the data sets. Our study demonstrates the potential of atmospheric retrievals of UHJs, including the effects of H- and thermal dissociation of molecules.
Abstract
Atmospheric retrievals of exoplanet transmission spectra allow constraints on the composition and structure of the day–night terminator region. Such retrievals in the past have typically ...assumed one-dimensional (1D) temperature structures which were adequate to explain extant observations. However, the increasing data quality expected from exoplanet spectroscopy with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) motivates considerations of multidimensional atmospheric retrievals. We present
Aura-3D
, a three-dimensional atmospheric retrieval framework for exoplanet transmission spectra.
Aura-3D
includes a forward model that enables rapid computation of transmission spectra in 3D geometry for a given atmospheric structure and can, therefore, be used for atmospheric retrievals as well as for computing spectra from general circulation models (GCMs). In order to efficiently explore the space of possible 3D temperature structures in retrievals, we develop a parametric 3D pressure–temperature profile which can accurately represent azimuthally averaged temperature structures of a range of hot Jupiter GCMs. We apply our retrieval framework to simulated JWST observations of hot Jupiter transmission spectra, obtaining accurate estimates of the day–night temperature variation across the terminator as well as the abundances of chemical species. We demonstrate an example of a model hot Jupiter transmission spectrum for which a traditional 1D retrieval of JWST-quality data returns biased abundance estimates, whereas a retrieval including a day–night temperature gradient can accurately retrieve the true abundances. Our forward model also has the capability to include inhomogeneous chemistry as well as variable clouds/hazes. This new retrieval framework opens the field to detailed multidimensional atmospheric characterization using transmission spectra of exoplanets in the JWST era.
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