Read Between the Spectral Lines: Characterizing Substellar Atmospheres

Abstract: Brown dwarfs and directly imaged self-luminous exoplanets are interesting and complex worlds that form a critical stepping stone along the path to imaging Earth-like planets. By examining their atmospheres in detail we can better understand their thermal profiles, chemical composition, and cloud properties that are tightly coupled with their formation and evolution. In this talk, I will explain how I use atmospheric retrievals, a powerful inverse modeling technique, to examine the atmospheres of brown dwarfs. I will present results from brown dwarf retrievals to show how they have enhanced our understanding of substellar atmospheres and the retrieval approach. Lastly, I will discuss how JWST and next-generation observatories are and will enhance our understanding of substellar atmospheres serving as a critical bridge in our exploration of smaller and cooler worlds.