Theory for the Secondary Eclipse Fluxes, Spectra, Atmospheres, and Light Curves of Transiting Extrasolar Giant Planets

We have created a general methodology for calculating the wavelength-dependent light curves of close-in extrasolar giant planets (EGPs) as they traverse their orbits. Focusing on the transiting EGPs HD 189733b, TrES-1, and HD 209458b, we calculate planet/star flux ratios during secondary eclipse and compare them with the Spitzer data points obtained so far in the mid-infrared. We introduce a simple parameterization for the redistribution of heat to the planet's night side, derive constraints on this parameter (Pn), and provide a general set of predictions for planet/star contrast ratios as a function of wavelength, model, and phase. Moreover, we calculate average dayside and nightside atmospheric temperature/pressure profiles for each transiting planet/Pn pair with which existing and anticipated Spitzer data can be used to probe the atmospheric thermal structure of severely irradiated EGPs. We find that the baseline models do a good job of fitting the current secondary eclipse data set, but that the Spitzer error bars are not yet small enough to discriminate cleanly among all the various possibilities.

[1]  I. Hubeny,et al.  A theoretical interpretation of the measurements of the secondary eclipses of tres-1 and HD 209458b , 2005 .

[2]  Adam Burrows,et al.  Phase Functions and Light Curves of Wide-Separation Extrasolar Giant Planets , 2005 .

[3]  Sara Seager,et al.  The Changing Face of the Extrasolar Giant Planet HD 209458b , 2002, astro-ph/0209227.

[4]  Adam Burrows,et al.  ALBEDO AND REFLECTION SPECTRA OF EXTRASOLAR GIANT PLANETS , 1999 .

[5]  Adam Burrows,et al.  Spectra and Diagnostics for the Direct Detection of Wide-Separation Extrasolar Giant Planets , 2004, astro-ph/0401522.

[6]  Drake Deming,et al.  Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Strong Infrared Emission from the Extrasolar Planet HD189733b , 2006 .

[7]  Curtis S. Cooper,et al.  Dynamic Meteorology at the Photosphere of HD 209458b , 2005, astro-ph/0502476.

[8]  Tristan Guillot,et al.  Evolution of "51 Pegasus b-like" planets , 2002 .

[9]  R. Kuschnig,et al.  An Upper Limit on the Albedo of HD 209458b: Direct Imaging Photometry with the MOST Satellite , 2006 .

[10]  A. Burrows.  A theoretical look at the direct detection of giant planets outside the Solar System , 2005, Nature.

[11]  Drake Deming,et al.  Infrared radiation from an extrasolar planet , 2005, Nature.

[12]  R. Paul Butler,et al.  Scientific Frontiers in Research on Extrasolar Planets , 2003 .

[13]  A. Burrows,et al.  On the Indirect Detection of Sodium in the Atmosphere of the Planetary Companion to HD 209458 , 2002, astro-ph/0208263.

[14]  Drake Deming,et al.  Scientific Frontiers in Research on Extrasolar Planets , 2003 .

[15]  M. Mayor,et al.  An extended upper atmosphere around the extrasolar planet HD209458b , 2003, Nature.

[16]  J. Fortney,et al.  Resolving the Surfaces of Extrasolar Planets with Secondary Eclipse Light Curves , 2006, astro-ph/0601092.

[17]  R. Gilliland,et al.  Detection of an Extrasolar Planet Atmosphere , 2001, astro-ph/0111544.

[18]  William B. Hubbard,et al.  A Theory for the Radius of the Transiting Giant Planet HD 209458b , 2003, astro-ph/0305277.

[19]  K. Rice,et al.  Protostars and Planets V , 2005 .

[20]  Marley,et al.  On the Radii of Close-in Giant Planets , 2000, The Astrophysical journal.

[21]  L. J. Richardson,et al.  On the Dayside Thermal Emission of Hot Jupiters , 2005 .

[22]  Peter H. Hauschildt,et al.  Phase-dependent Properties of Extrasolar Planet Atmospheres , 2005 .

[23]  David Charbonneau,et al.  Detection of Thermal Emission from an Extrasolar Planet , 2005 .

[24]  A time-dependent radiative model of HD 209458b , 2004, astro-ph/0409468.

[25]  Dimitar D. Sasselov,et al.  HD 209458: Physical Parameters of the Parent Star and the Transiting Planet , 2001, astro-ph/0111494.

[26]  Tristan Guillot,et al.  Atmospheric circulation and tides of ``51 Pegasus b-like'' planets , 2002 .

[27]  On the surface heating of synchronously spinning short-period jovian planets , 2003, astro-ph/0312476.

[28]  A. Burrows,et al.  THEORETICAL RADII OF TRANSITING GIANT PLANETS: THE CASE OF OGLE-TR-56b , 2004, astro-ph/0405264.

[29]  Comparative Planetary Atmospheres: Models of TrES-1 and HD 209458b , 2005, astro-ph/0505359.

[30]  I. Hubeny,et al.  A Possible Bifurcation in Atmospheres of Strongly Irradiated Stars and Planets , 2003 .

[31]  Adam Burrows,et al.  Theoretical Spectra and Atmospheres of Extrasolar Giant Planets , 2003 .

[32]  Drake Deming,et al.  Infrared Observations during the Secondary Eclipse of HD 209458b. II. Strong Limits on the Infrared Spectrum Near 2.2 μm , 2003, astro-ph/0307297.

[33]  Sara Seager,et al.  “Weather” Variability of Close-in Extrasolar Giant Planets , 2002, astro-ph/0210499.