Characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres by transmission spectroscopy. Importance of the determination of precise orbital parameters

TORRES, A. F.; VON ESSEN, C.; MICULÁN, R.

San Martín

Workshop; EXO.AR I: 1st Argentinian Workshop on Exoplanets "Observations and data analysis"; 2017

Since the first confirmation of an exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star in 1995, till date we know about the existence of four thousand exoplanets and as the number of discoveries increases, so does the diversity of these alien worlds. The science challenge today is to be able to characterize them completely. One of the most successful exoplanet detection methods, with space and ground based facilities at disposal, is the primary transit technique. During primary transits, a fraction of the light emitted by the host stars interact with the outer layers of the exoplanetary atmospheres. Through these interactions we can indirectly study their chemical composition, using the technique called transmission spectroscopy.Here I will introduce the concept of transmission spectroscopy: What are the physical processes that transmission spectroscopy allows us to study? What has to be considered to properly carry out this technique? And why is it so important to characterize the transit parameters as accurate as possible to study exo-atmospheres? In addition, I will show recent results achieved with Argentinian telescopes on the refinement of the transit parameters of five systems that I have identified as strong candidates for future exo-atmospheric studies.