Denys Wilkinson Building, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH
Dr Anjali Piette, University of Birmingham
From lava worlds to ultra-hot Jupiters: uncovering close-in exoplanet atmospheres with JWST
JWST is transforming our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres, providing unprecedented chemical and thermal constraints across a wide range of planetary environments. In this talk, I will highlight some recent JWST observations as well as ongoing advances in the modelling methods used to interpret them. For ultra‑hot Jupiters such as WASP‑18 b, eclipse observations now allow 3D mapping of dayside temperatures and chemistry, offering insights into their atmospheric dynamics. In the smaller, sub‑Neptune regime, detections of molecules such as CH₄, CO₂ and H₂O are raising new questions about their interior compositions and formation. I will discuss the role of atmosphere-interior interactions in shaping these observations and distinguishing the origins of volatile species as accreted vs endogenous. I will also discuss recent evidence that the lava world TOI‑561 b hosts a thick atmosphere, illustrating how rocky planets with extreme irradiation can inform our understanding of atmospheric retention and atmosphere-interior coupling.