ExoLunch spring-2024

The study of exoplanetary systems holds the promise of helping humanity to better understand its place in the universe. Measuring the chemical composition of exoplanets allows us to test formation and evolutionary hypotheses and search for signs of life, making it a crucial step towards characterizing the exoplanet population and putting our Solar System in context. JWST is providing the observational capability to characterize exoplanets in much more detail than has previously been possible, and promises to answer several long-standing questions in the field. However, while our capacity to observe exoplanet atmospheres is being revolutionized, significant advances in modeling are also required to deliver on these promises. In this talk, I will present ongoing work to transform the way we model exoplanet atmospheres and interiors. I will show how combining the power of different models can allow us to place more robust constraints on an exoplanet’s composition, which can help to avoid biased inferences. For giant planets, I will highlight the importance of moving from 1D to 3D models when fitting JWST data in order to accurately constrain atmospheric properties. For sub-Neptunes, I will discuss how to connect both atmospheric and interior models to observations in order to break crucial degeneracies and truly characterize this mysterious population. These modeling improvements will help us to maximize the scientific return from JWST, while setting the stage for longer-term advances in our understanding of exoplanets from upcoming facilities.