ORCID

0000-0002-8307-144X

Keywords

Physics, Astronomy, Exoplanet Observations, Exoplanet Atmospheres

Abstract

High-precision infrared photometry is fundamental to the field of exoplanet science, enabling direct measurements of planetary thermal emission, atmospheric composition, and energy redistribution. The stability and sensitivity achieved by instruments aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope provides a catalog of hundreds of transiting exoplanets with measurements of flux variations to the level of tens of parts per million. This legacy contextualizes and complements recent and upcoming high-resolution spectroscopic observations. In this work I apply multiple analysis techniques to all available Spitzer observations of three hot Jupiters to determine how much we can still learn from archival data and what best practices should be applied to future observations. In Chapter 2, I re- solve differences in the methodology of conflicting published results for HAT-P-13b, re-analyze the secondary eclipse light curves of HAT-P-13b and HAT-P-16b with updated techniques, determine their orbital properties, and perform atmospheric retrievals. In Chapter 3, I perform a comprehensive assessment of the current capabilities of photometric data analysis techniques using one of the highest signal-to-noise ratio and most frequently observed exoplanets, HD 209458 b. This chapter analyses 34 secondary eclipses of HD 209458 b observed across six Spitzer wavelength channels spanning 3.6 μm – 24 μm and retrieves atmospheric information using the resulting broadband spectra. In Chapter 4, I examine the 14 Spitzer primary transits of HD 209458 b, also spanning 3.6 μm – 24 μm and model their light curves. Finally, combining the parameters derived from my Spitzer light curves with recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope, I explore several atmospheric scenarios for HD 209458 b.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Fall

Committee Chair

Harrington, Joseph

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Physics

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029804

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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