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Methane in the Atmosphere of the Transiting Hot Neptune GJ436b?

Beaulieu, JP; Tinetti, G; Kipping, DM; Ribas, I; Barber, RJ; Cho, JYK; Polichtchouk, I; ... Aylward, A; + view all (2011) Methane in the Atmosphere of the Transiting Hot Neptune GJ436b? Astrophysical Journal , 731 (1) , Article 16. 10.1088/0004-637X/731/1/16. Green open access

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Abstract

We present an analysis of seven primary transit observations of the hot Neptune GJ436b at 3.6, 4.5, and 8 mu m obtained with the Infrared Array Camera on the Spitzer Space Telescope. After correcting for systematic effects, we fitted the light curves using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique. Combining these new data with the EPOXI, Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based V, I, H, and K-s published observations, the range 0.5-10 mu m can be covered. Due to the low level of activity of GJ436, the effect of starspots on the combination of transits at different epochs is negligible at the accuracy of the data set. Representative climate models were calculated by using a three-dimensional, pseudospectral general circulation model with idealized thermal forcing. Simulated transit spectra of GJ436b were generated using line-by-line radiative transfer models including the opacities of the molecular species expected to be present in such a planetary atmosphere. A new, ab-initio-calculated, line list for hot ammonia has been used for the first time. The photometric data observed at multiple wavelengths can be interpreted with methane being the dominant absorption after molecular hydrogen, possibly with minor contributions from ammonia, water, and other molecules. No clear evidence of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is found from transit photometry. We discuss this result in the light of a recent paper where photochemical disequilibrium is hypothesized to interpret secondary transit photometric data. We show that the emission photometric data are not incompatible with the presence of abundant methane, but further spectroscopic data are desirable to confirm this scenario.

Type: Article
Title: Methane in the Atmosphere of the Transiting Hot Neptune GJ436b?
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/731/1/16
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/731/1/16
Language: English
Additional information: © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
Keywords: Planetary systems, Spectroscopic techniques, Extrasolar giant planets, Hubble-space-telescope, Transmission spectra, HD 189733B, GJ 436B, M-dwarfs, MU-M, Spitzer, Temperature, Models
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Physics and Astronomy
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Science and Technology Studies
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/191666
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