Exoplanet Atmospheres: Detection & Characterisation

Since the first exoplanet discovery in 1995 over 4000 planets have been found, revealing a population far more diverse than that of our own Solar System. With such an extensive selection of planets, recent years have seen research efforts shift from detection to characterisation. Techniques such as transit and eclipse spectroscopy have allowed us to probe exoplanetary atmospheres in more detail than ever before, revealing much about their thermal structures and chemical composition. It is through knowledge of these properties that we hope to understand the processes that govern planetary formation and evolution.

The next generation of space telescopes are poised to dramatically improve our understanding of exoplanetary atmospheres. Upcoming missions such as ARIEL and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will lead the way in providing high precision observations of unprecedented quality. Data from these initiatives will lead to a vast number of interesting research opportunities, opening up extraordinary insights into exoplanetary systems.

This book provides an overview of the current state of research within the exoplanet community, covering important topics such as:
- Detection Techniques
- Transmission and Emission Spectroscopy
- Atmospheric Retrieval
- ARIEL Space Telescope

This is the perfect introduction to exoplanet atmospheres, suited to both students and amateurs with a keen interest in planetary science.