The agenda for the Pre-Launch Theory Webbinar is listed below. All overview talks and Guided Tutorials will be held over zoom, with the connection information sent out to registered participants. Most days will consist of a ~1 hour background overview of a topic followed by a ~1 hour hands on code tutorial on tools relevant to that day's topic. Each tutorial will be followed with an optional “offline” homework assignment. All zoom sessions will be recorded and shared. We have a slack workspace that will be open to all registered participants to serve as a tool for communication and conversation beyond the zoom sessions. Finally, all tutorial materials will be placed into a drop-box folder, with a link sent to all registered participants. The Webbinars will begin every Thursday at 11:00 am EDT (8:00 am PT, 5:00 pm CEST) starting on July 1 and continuing until August 19.
Thursday, July 1, 2021
8:00am PT
11:00am ET
5:00pm CEST
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Intro & Key Motivating Questions in Exoplanet Atmospheres
Talk:
Welcome + overview
Mike Line
(~15 min + 5 min questions)
- Brief ERS Overview
- Goals of the Theory Webbinar
- Schedule overview
Talk:
Overview of Exoplanet Atmosphere Key Questions
Jonathan Fortney
(45+10 minutes)
- Connections of atmospheres with planet formation
- Key testable atmosphere processes hypotheses
Talk:
What Masses and Radii Tell us About Planets
Daniel Thorngren
(45+10 minutes)
- Connections between mass/radius and bulk elemental enrichment
- Interior+atmosphere connections
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Thursday, July 8, 2021
8:00am PT
11:00am ET
5:00pm CEST
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Introduction to Transmission Spectroscopy
Talk:
Physics Governing Transmission Spectra
Vivien Parmenteir
(45+10 minutes)
- What is a transmission spectrum?
- What properties can we derive from a transmission spectrum?
Tutorial:
Transmission Spectra with CHIMERA
Michael Line
(45+10 minutes)
- Will learn how to use the CHIMERA transmission model to explore how various properties (gas abundances, clouds, temperature, gravity) influence spectral shape.
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Thursday, July 15, 2021
8:00am PT
11:00am ET
5:00pm CEST
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Introduction to Eclipse Spectroscopy
Talk:
Physics Governing Eclipse Spectra
Tad Komacek
(45+10 minutes)
- What is an eclipse spectrum?
- What properties can we derive from an eclipse spectrum?
Tutorial:
Eclipse Spectra with PICASO
Natasha Batalha
(45+10 minutes)
- Will learn how to use the PICASO tool to explore how various properties (gas abundances, clouds, temperature) influence eclipse spectra.
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Thursday, July 22, 2021
8:00am PT
11:00am ET
5:00pm CEST
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Sagan Summer School
(No Webbinar Today)
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Thursday, July 29, 2021
8:00am PT
11:00am ET
5:00pm CEST
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Introduction to Radiative-Convective Equilibrium
Talk:
1D Radiative-Convective Equilibirum Physics and Considerations
Paul Molliere
(45+10 minutes)
- What is Radiative-Convective Equilibrium?
- Why are they useful?
- Analytic solutions and numerical methods/solutions
Tutorial:
A Numerical 1D RCE Model
Patricio Cubillos
(45+10 minutes)
- Will learn how to use a numerical radiative-convective equilibrium tool to explore radiative/convective energy balance in planetary atmospheres and how various aspects (irradiation, gravity, internal temperature, composition) impact the temperature structure and emergent spectrum.
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Thursday, August 5, 2021
8:00am PT
11:00am ET
5:00pm CEST
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Principles of Exo-Atmospheric Chemistry
(This is a longer day because there are two tutorials.)
Talk:
Chemical Processes in Exoplanet Atmospheres
Julie Moses
(45+10 minutes)
- What are the key driving chemistries and concepts in planetary atmospheres from cold to hot?
- How do we solve chemistry in atmospheres?
Tutorial:
Thermochemical Equilibrium Chemistry with TEA
Jasmina Blecic
(45+10 minutes)
- Will learn how to use the TEA equilibrium solver to explore the key aspects of thermochemical equilibrium chemistry in planetary atmospheres including temperature, pressure, and elemental abundances.
Tutorial:
Chemical Kinetics, mixing, and Photochemistry with VULCAN
Shami Tsai
(45+10 minutes)
- Will learn how to use the VULCAN chemical kinetics solver to explore the role of vertical mixing (eddy diffusion) and stellar irradiation on molecular composition.
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Thursday, August 12, 2021
8:00am PT
11:00am ET
5:00pm CEST
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Exoplanet Clouds
Talk:
Principles of Exoplanet Atmosphere Clouds
Diana Powell
(45+10 minutes)
- What are clouds and hazes?
- What are the different methods and assumptions that are used to model clouds?
Tutorial:
Computing Exoplanet Clouds with VIRGA
Caoimhe Rooney
(45+10 minutes)
- Will learn how to use the VIRGA code to compute an “intermediate complexity” exoplanet cloud and corresponding optical properties.
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Thursday, August 19, 2021
8:00am PT
11:00am ET
5:00pm CEST
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Principles of Atmospheric Retrievals
Talk:
Key Aspects of Atmospheric Retrievals
Luis Welbanks
(45+10 minutes)
- What are atmospheric retrievals and the core components?
- What are the common assumptions and pitfalls in atmospheric retrievals?
Tutorial:
Transmission Spectrum Retrievals with PLATON
Michael Zhang
(45+10 minutes)
- Will learn how to use the retrieve basic atmospheric properties from a transmission spectrum with the PLATON retrieval tool.
Tutorial:
Emission Spectrum Retrievals with PetiteRadTrans
Paul Molliere
(45+10 minutes)
- Will learn how to use the retrieve basic atmospheric properties from an emission spectrum with the PetiteRadTrans retrieval tool.
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