Abstract
We present an analytical model for the transmission spectrum of a transiting exoplanet, showing that a cloud base can produce an observable inflection point in the spectrum. The wavelength and magnitude of the inflection can be used to break the degeneracy between the atmospheric pressure and the abundance of the main cloud material, however, the abundance still depends on cloud particle size. An observed inflection also provides a specific point on the atmospheric P-T profile, giving us a "thermometer" to directly validate or rule out postulated cloud species. We apply the model to the transit spectrum of HD 189733b.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | L11 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal Letters |
Volume | 789 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- methods: analytical
- planets and satellites: atmospheres
- radiative transfer
- scattering
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science