The atmospheric compositions of exoplanets have been measured by using space telescopes such as Hubble, Spitzer, and JWST; however, the dearth of spectral databases at relevant atmospheric conditions and observational wavelengths inhibits our ability to constrain their compositions. Furthermore, mineral aerosols can also suppress characteristic peaks or produce their own spectral signature, complicating interpretations. To address these challenges, I built an ultra-high vacuum furnace system while a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at San Antonio to simulate warm- to hot-Neptune/Jupiter-sized exoplanets. Since its completion, my undergraduate student and I have been exposing candidate minerals to simulated exoplanet atmospheres (H2, CH4, CO2, etc.; 500-700°C) to identify changes in both the mineral and gas phases. The data can be incorporated into atmospheric models and applied to observational spectra.
Future work
Utilizing my expertise in mineral weathering and volatile cycling, I plan to collect experimental data relevant to warm- to hot- Neptune/Jupiter sized exoplanets that can be applied to atmospheric models and observational spectra. This includes Constraining the Influence of Mineral Aerosols on Exoplanet Atmospheres and Collecting Spectral Data to Identify Gases in Exoplanet Atmospheres.