Photometric and Spectroscopic Properties of Extrasolar Solid Planets

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25887024
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Solid earth and planetary physics
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: FUJII YUKA 東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, 特任助教 (20713944)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 系外惑星 / 天文学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Future direct imaging observations of Earth-size exoplanets will play an essential role in exploring their detailed properties including surface geology and habitability. In order to provide a useful bridge between the rich insights into the Solar system planets and future exoplanet research, we quantitatively surveyed point-source photometry in UV/visible/near IR of major Solar System solid bodies with minor atmospheres based on recent mapping products as well as observed light curves, and discussed the implications for surface characteristics at global scale. We show a 5-50% peak-to-trough variation amplitude in one spin rotation associated with various geological processes including heterogeneous surface compositions due to igneous activities, interaction with surrounding energetic particles, and distribution of grained materials. Some indications of these processes are provided by the amplitude and wavelength dependence of variation in combinations of the time-averaged spectra.

Free Research Field

系外惑星