A Cloudy Fit to the Atmosphere of WASP-107 b
Helong Huang, Michiel Min, Chris W. Ormel, Achr\`ene Dyrek, Nicolas Crouzet

TL;DR
This study models the atmosphere of WASP-107 b using JWST data, demonstrating that silicate clouds can form in its upper atmosphere due to turbulence, and providing insights into its composition and cloud formation processes.
Contribution
It presents a self-consistent cloud and temperature profile fitting approach that explains silicate cloud features without relying on parametrized temperature profiles.
Findings
Silicate cloud feature at 10 um explained without parametrized temperature profile.
Moderate vertical diffusivity (Kzz = 10^9 cm^2 s^-1) uplifts cloud particles to upper atmosphere.
Model suggests a metallicity 17 times solar for WASP-107 b.
Abstract
Context. WASP-107 b has been observed comprehensively by JWST in the near- and mid-IR bands, making it an ideal planet to probe the composition and internal dynamics. Recent analysis reveals a 8-10 um silicate feature, but it still remains uncertain how silicate clouds form on this planet. Aims. We aim at fitting the complete JWST spectrum of WASP-107 b, from 0.9 um to 12 um with a physically motivated cloud model and self-consistent temperature profile. Methods. Two-stream radiative transfer is coupled to a cloud formation model until convergence between cloud and temperature profiles is reached. We search a model grid spanning metallicity, turbulent diffusivity, internal heat flux and nucleation parameters to find the best fit model. Results. The silicate cloud feature at 10 um and the near-IR molecular band strength can be simultaneously and naturally explained without assuming a…
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