The ExoMol Atlas of Molecular Opacities

TL;DR

The ExoMol Atlas compiles molecular opacity data for 52 molecules at key temperatures, aiding models of exoplanet and stellar atmospheres by providing comprehensive line lists derived from ab initio and laboratory data.

Contribution

This paper presents a comprehensive collection of molecular opacities for 52 molecules, expanding the available data for modeling hot atmospheres and highlighting the need for complete line lists.

Findings

Line lists for 52 molecules at 300 K and 2000 K are provided.

ExoMol line lists cover about 30 key molecular species.

The paper identifies gaps and needs for additional molecular data.

Abstract

The ExoMol project is dedicated to providing molecular line lists for exoplanet and other hot atmospheres. The ExoMol procedure uses a mixture of ab initio calculations and available laboratory data. The actual line lists are generated using variational nuclear motion calculations. These line lists form the input for opacity models for cool stars and brown dwarfs as well as for radiative transport models involving exoplanets. This paper is a collection of molecular opacities for 52 molecules (130 isotopologues) at two reference temperatures, 300 K and 2000 K, using line lists from the ExoMol database. So far, ExoMol line lists have been generated for about 30 key molecular species. Other line lists are taken from external sources or from our work predating the ExoMol project. An overview of the line lists generated by ExoMol thus far is presented and used to evaluate further molecular data needs. Other line lists are also considered. The requirement for completeness within a line list is emphasized and needs for further line lists discussed.