THE ATMOSPHERIC SIGNATURES OF SUPER-EARTHS: HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HYDROGEN-RICH AND HYDROGEN-POOR ATMOSPHERES
THE ATMOSPHERIC SIGNATURES OF SUPER-EARTHS: HOW TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HYDROGEN-RICH AND HYDROGEN-POOR ATMOSPHERES
Extrasolar super-Earths (1–10 M⊕) are likely to exist with a wide range of atmospheres. Some super-Earths may be able to retain massive hydrogen-rich atmospheres. Others might never accumulate hydrogen or experience significant escape of lightweight elements, resulting in atmospheres more like those of the terrestrial planets in our solar system. …