11267(  1) - 03/30/07 11:18  - [  1]

                  HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 11267

Version: 1    Check-in Time: 30-Mar-2007 15:17:53       STScI Edit Number: 0

Title
Dynamical Heat Re-Distribution Modeling in Hot-Juipter's
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Type             Cycle     Parallel Pointing Tolerance
AR               16        <none>
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Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Dr. Douglas N. C. Lin             University of California - Santa Cruz
   CoI: Mr. Ian M. Dobbs-Dixon            University of California - Santa Cruz         N
   CoI: Ms. Katherine A. Kretke           University of California - Santa Cruz         N

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Abstract

Observations of transiting hot-Jupiter's have opened a new avenue for exploring the
structure and atmospheres of giant extra-solar planets. Significantly different then
our own giant planets, tidally locked hot-Jupiter's are subject to intense
irradiation from their host star, which drives supersonic winds across the face. In
this proposal we describe a study coupling full 3-dimensional radiative hydrodynamic
models to radiative transfer models and detailed opacity studies. Noticeably absent
in current studies, these models will allow us to self-consistently explore existing
observations and predict properties of new objects, including spectral signatures
and light curves. These predications should be directly testable by the Hubble Space
Telescope and should lead to a greatly improved understanding of atmospheric physics
on the surface of extra-solar planets.
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