Radiative Hydrodynamical Studies of Irradiated Atmospheres

TL;DR

This paper presents 3D radiative hydrodynamical simulations of irradiated exoplanet atmospheres, highlighting how opacity variations and orbital periods influence atmospheric temperature and dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces comprehensive 3D models coupling Navier-Stokes equations with radiation transfer, emphasizing the importance of optical and infrared opacity distinctions.

Findings

Opacity variations affect temperature differences across planets.

Atmospheric dynamics become more variable at longer orbital periods.

Distinguishing optical and infrared opacities is crucial for accurate modeling.

Abstract

Transiting planets provide a unique opportunity to study the atmospheres of extra-solar planets. Radiative hydrodynamical models of the atmosphere provide a crucial link between the physical characteristics of the atmosphere and the observed properties. Here I present results from 3D simulations which solve the full Navier-Stokes equations coupled to a flux-limited diffusion treatment of radiation transfer for planets with 1, 3, and 7 day periods. Variations in opacity amongst models leads to a variation in the temperature differential across the planet, while atmospheric dynamics becomes much more variable at longer orbital periods. I also present 3D radiative simulations illustrating the importance of distinguishing between optical and infrared opacities.