Published August 1, 2020 | Version v1
Journal article

PLATON II: New Capabilities and a Comprehensive Retrieval on HD 189733b Transit and Eclipse Data

  • 1. Department of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)
  • 2. Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)
  • 3. Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 (United States)
  • 4. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)

Description

Recently, we introduced PLanetary Atmospheric Tool for Observer Noobs (PLATON), a Python package that calculates model transmission spectra for exoplanets and retrieves atmospheric characteristics based on observed spectra. We now expand its capabilities to include the ability to compute secondary eclipse depths. We have also added the option to calculate models using the correlated-k method for radiative transfer, which improves accuracy without sacrificing speed. Additionally, we update the opacities in PLATON—many of which were generated using old or proprietary line lists—using the most recent and complete public line lists. These opacities are made available at R = 1000 and R = 10,000 over the 0.3–30 μm range, and at R = 375,000 in select near-IR bands, making it possible to utilize PLATON for ground-based high-resolution cross-correlation studies. To demonstrate PLATON's new capabilities, we perform a retrieval on published Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Spitzer transmission and emission spectra of the archetypal hot Jupiter HD 189733b. This is the first joint transit and secondary eclipse retrieval for this planet in the literature, as well as the most comprehensive set of both transit and eclipse data assembled for a retrieval to date. We find that these high signal-to-noise data are well matched by atmosphere models with a C/O ratio of 0.66 0.09 + 0.05 and a metallicity of 12 5 + 8 times solar where the terminator is dominated by extended nanometer-sized haze particles at optical wavelengths. These are among the smallest uncertainties reported to date for an exoplanet, demonstrating both the power and the limitations of HST and Spitzer exoplanet observations.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aba1e6

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal
Journal Volume
899
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
[27 p.]
ISSN
0004-637X
CODEN
ASJOAB

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
52068752
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
CORRELATIONS; ECLIPSE; EMISSION SPECTRA; OPACITY; PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES; RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER; RESOLUTION; SPACE VEHICLES; TELESCOPES; TRANSMISSION; VELOCITY; WAVELENGTHS
Descriptors DEC
ATMOSPHERES; ENERGY TRANSFER; HEAT TRANSFER; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; SPECTRA; VEHICLES