Details
Speaker Name/Affiliation
Evgenya Shkolnik / Arizona State University
When
-
Seminar Type
Location (Room)
JILA Auditorium
Event Details & Abstracts
Abstract: Stellar emissions are central to shaping the environments of exoplanets. As stars emit a wide spectrum of radiation and particles, these emissions impact the formation, evolution, composition, and overall fate of a planet's atmosphere. This talk connects astrophysics, heliophysics and planetary science, highlighting how solar/stellar winds, eruptions, and high-energy light contribute to atmospheric erosion, induce chemical reactions, and potentially drive the dynamics of weather and aurorae on exoplanets. Systems like TRAPPIST-1 anchor our exploration, challenging our understanding of atmospheric retention under intense stellar activity, alongside nearby Sun-like stars that will be targeted for habitable planets by the Habitable Worlds Observatory. We will explore recent observations and theoretical models that examine interaction mechanisms between stellar emissions and exoplanet atmospheres and discuss several future space missions providing critical data. By understanding the complex dynamics of these important yet often overlooked interactions, we can better understand observed exoplanet demographics, interpret new JWST exoplanet spectra, and predict which exoplanets might harbor conditions suitable for life as we know it.