The Impact of Transit Observations on Planetary Physics

TL;DR

Transit observations are crucial for understanding planetary atmospheres and interiors, providing spectral data and mass-radius relations that help characterize exoplanets and explain their large radii.

Contribution

This paper emphasizes the significance of transit data in planetary physics and reviews mechanisms behind large planetary radii, including calculations of mass-radius relations.

Findings

Transit spectra reveal atmospheric composition including TiO, VO, H2O, CO, Na, and K.

Mass-radius relations are calculated for different planetary compositions.

Mechanisms for large planetary radii are briefly reviewed.

Abstract

We highlight the importance of transit observations on understanding the physics of planetary atmospheres and interiors. Transmission spectra and emission spectra allow us to characterize this exotic atmospheres, which possess TiO, VO, H2O, CO, Na, and K, as principal absorbers. We calculate mass-radius relations for water-rock-iron and gas giant planets and examine these relations in light of current and future transit observations. A brief review is given of mechanisms that could lead to the large radii observed for some transiting planets.