Ary Cheng

What effects do the properties of an exoplanet have on its transmission spectrum? How can we computationally model these effects to generate a theoretical spectrum given properties of the planet, or determine these properties given the planet's transmission spectrum?

Started Mar. 23, 2022

Abstract or project description

One of the most successful methods to characterize an exoplanet is through the use of high-resolution spectroscopy (R > 25,000). Light from the exoplanet is collected and analyzed to determine properties about the planet, including the presence of certain molecules in its atmosphere. However, there are many factors that can modify the spectrum of light that is detected by our telescopes, and the resulting spectrum often has noticeable differences compared to an unaltered spectrum. In this project, I present a review of the most prominent factors that can affect the observed spectrum, such as the planet’s radial velocity (RV), rotation, and temperature. I also review the current methods that are used to analyze the spectra detected from exoplanets. Finally, I develop a Python code that can both computationally implement these effects to generate a model spectrum, and analyze a given spectrum to determine these parameters.