The Chair of Theoretical Astrophysics of Extrasolar Planets at LMU performs research on exoplanet science beyond theory and simulation. It includes observations and phenomenology (interpretation of observations using Bayesian methods).
Beyond the measurement of the mass and radius of an exoplanet, its atmosphere is the only window into its chemistry. By interpreting this chemistry using a combination of theory and experiment (in close collaboration with geoscientists at the LMU Faculty of Geosciences), one may obtain constraints on the formation history and habitability conditions of the exoplanet. Unlike for gas-giant exoplanets, the atmospheric chemistry of a rocky exoplanet cannot be interpreted without deeply understanding its geochemical environment.
Any future hunt for biosignatures in the atmospheres of exoplanets must be buttressed by an elucidation of their geological false positives. Therefore, the LMU Exoplanet Chair incorporates a diverse range of expertise from astrophysicists, planetary scientists and geoscientists, and practises theory, simulation, observations and phenomenology. We contribute to exoplanet science at the Wendelstein Observatory.
The Exoplanet Chair fosters an interactive intellectual environment with weekly in-person team meetings and two co-running seminar series on the geosciences of exoplanets and Bayesian methods. We firmly believe that regular, disciplined, in-person debate is a key part of intellectual growth.
PhD Topic: Astrophysics, Chemistry and Geosciences of Exoplanets and their Atmospheres
The Ph.D topics can be tailored to the research interests and skill set (both existing and desired) of the student, but broadly includes astrochemistry (the chemistry of protoplanetary disks), atmospheric retrieval (Bayesian inference applied to spectra of exoplanetary atmospheres), astronomical observations of exoplanetary atmospheres (using various facilities around the world), theory and simulation of exoplanetary atmospheres (using a suite of codes we already constructed), planetary science (studying the planets and moons of the Solar System) and the geochemistry of exoplanets (interiors and outgassing).