Aerosols in exoplanet retrieval models: validating parameterization
Abstract
Aerosols - droplets or particles that form clouds and hazes - play a significant role in shaping the spectra of exoplanets observed during transit. However, the majority of exoplanets for which these spectra are available are hot and highly irradiated, so we have no prior knowledge from our own Solar System of what we expect these aerosols to be like. Parameterized retrieval models are designed to directly recover aerosol properties from spectra, but these are highly simplified representations of complex microphysical processes. We test the ability of retrieval models to recover aerosol information by applying them to synthetic spectra generated from full 3D circulation and microphysics simulations; initial tests show that the simple model spectra provide an excellent fit to the simulated observations, and we are able to recover some key properties such as Rayleigh scattering behaviour of small particles. We will present a comprehensive study comparing a range of aerosol parameterizations, and will make recommendations for optimal approaches based on their performance when applied to the synthetic spectra.
- Publication:
-
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019
- Pub Date:
- September 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019EPSC...13.1505B