JWST-TST DREAMS: Quartz Clouds in the Atmosphere of WASP-17b
-
Published:2023-10-01
Issue:2
Volume:956
Page:L32
-
ISSN:2041-8205
-
Container-title:The Astrophysical Journal Letters
-
language:
-
Short-container-title:ApJL
Author:
Grant DavidORCID, Lewis Nikole K.ORCID, Wakeford Hannah R.ORCID, Batalha Natasha E.ORCID, Glidden AnaORCID, Goyal JayeshORCID, Mullens ElijahORCID, MacDonald Ryan J.ORCID, May Erin M.ORCID, Seager SaraORCID, Stevenson Kevin B.ORCID, Valenti Jeff A.ORCID, Visscher ChannonORCID, Alderson LiliORCID, Allen Natalie H.ORCID, Cañas Caleb I.ORCID, Colón KnicoleORCID, Clampin MarkORCID, Espinoza NéstorORCID, Gressier AmélieORCID, Huang JingchengORCID, Lin ZifanORCID, Long DouglasORCID, Louie Dana R.ORCID, Peña-Guerrero MariaORCID, Ranjan SukritORCID, Sotzen Kristin S.ORCID, Valentine DanielORCID, Anderson JayORCID, Balmer William O.ORCID, Bellini AndreaORCID, Hoch Kielan K. W.ORCID, Kammerer JensORCID, Libralato MattiaORCID, Mountain C. Matt, Perrin Marshall D.ORCID, Pueyo Laurent, Rickman EmilyORCID, Rebollido IsabelORCID, Sohn Sangmo TonyORCID, van der Marel Roeland P.ORCID, Watkins Laura L.ORCID
Abstract
Abstract
Clouds are prevalent in many of the exoplanet atmospheres that have been observed to date. For transiting exoplanets, we know if clouds are present because they mute spectral features and cause wavelength-dependent scattering. While the exact composition of these clouds is largely unknown, this information is vital to understanding the chemistry and energy budget of planetary atmospheres. In this work, we observe one transit of the hot Jupiter WASP-17b with JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument Low Resolution Spectrometer and generate a transmission spectrum from 5 to 12 μm. These wavelengths allow us to probe absorption due to the vibrational modes of various predicted cloud species. Our transmission spectrum shows additional opacity centered at 8.6 μm, and detailed atmospheric modeling and retrievals identify this feature as SiO2(s) (quartz) clouds. The SiO2(s) clouds model is preferred at 3.5–4.2σ versus a cloud-free model and at 2.6σ versus a generic aerosol prescription. We find the SiO2(s) clouds are composed of small ∼0.01 μm particles, which extend to high altitudes in the atmosphere. The atmosphere also shows a depletion of H2O, a finding consistent with the formation of high-temperature aerosols from oxygen-rich species. This work is part of a series of studies by our JWST Telescope Scientist Team (JWST-TST), in which we will use Guaranteed Time Observations to perform Deep Reconnaissance of Exoplanet Atmospheres through Multi-instrument Spectroscopy (DREAMS).
Funder
UKRI ∣ Science and Technology Facilities Council
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Subject
Space and Planetary Science,Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献
|
|