Speaker
Description
Mass-radius measurements of exoplanets over three decades have revealed three major classes based on bulk composition. This decade is witnessing a significant shift from the atmospheric characterisation of gas giant exoplanets to their smaller counterparts, sub-Neptunes and rocky exoplanets. While the observations of atmospheres of sub-Neptunes and rocky exoplanets keep growing, the understanding of planetary interiors and interior-atmosphere interactions is more vital than ever. I will discuss the role of exoplanet interiors on atmospheric composition, including processes such as geochemical cycling and outgassing. I will demonstrate why ab initio simulations and laboratory experiments are required to go beyond the physicochemical parameter space of solar system planets to understand the physically and chemically diverse exoplanets. I will give examples of the impact of extrapolations of the knowledge of solar system planets to exoplanets.
