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WASp-121b at different phases as would be seen by an observer, modelled with the 3D SPARC/MITgcm.

The hot Jupiter WASP-121b at different phases as would be seen by an observer, modelled with the 3D SPARC/MITgcm.

Credit: Vivien Parmentier

Vivien Parmentier

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Research theme

  • Astronomy and astrophysics
  • Exoplanets and planetary physics

Sub department

  • Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics

Research groups

  • Exoplanet atmospheres
  • Exoplanets and Stellar Physics
vivien.parmentier@physics.ox.ac.uk
Telephone: 01865282458
Atmospheric Physics Clarendon Laboratory, room 116
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  • About
  • Publications

Vivien Parmentier is associate professor in physics and a tutorial fellow at Somerville College. Our group develops theories supported by models of different complexities to interpret the current observations of exoplanet atmospheres and prepare for the next generation of telescopes. The group work is focused on planets that can already been observed by space-based (HST and JWST) or ground-based (ESPRESSO/VLT, IGRINS/Gemini) telescopes, such as hot Jupiters and warm Neptunes. 

Main interactions in exoplanet atmospheres.
Main interactions in exoplanets atmospheres.

Our group studies the interactions between thermal structure, atmospheric dynamics and chemical composition of exoplanet atmospheres. The tools we use include 1D radiative/convective equilibrium (CHIMERA), global circulation models (SPARC/MITgcm), atmospheric chemistry (VULCAN) or cloud formation models (DHIRT) and retrievals (NEMESIS). We are particularly interested in how the 3D thermal, chemical and cloud structure of exoplanet atmospheres are important to interpret their observed spectra.  

Recent topics of interest include: 

-- Modelling the dichotomy of ultra-hot Jupiters, planets with a dayside hot enough to dissociate hydrogen but a nightside cold enough to form clouds. 

-- Modelling the spectra of hot Jupiters at high-resolution, where information about the wind speed in the planet can be gathered. 

-- Estimating the effect of nightside clouds on the phase curve of hot Jupiter atmospheres. 

-- Modelling the interaction between ammonia and water clouds in our own Jupiter. 

-- Determining the best methods to retrieve the elemental abundance of a planet from its emission spectra when 3D effects or clouds are present. 

Selected publications

From thermal dissociation to condensation in the atmospheres of ultra hot Jupiters: WASP-121b in context

ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS 617 (2018) ARTN A110
Vivien Parmentier, Mike R Line, Jacob L Bean, Megan Mansfield, Laura Kreidberg, Roxana Lupu, Channon Visscher, Jean-Michel Desert, Jonathan J Fortney, Magalie Deleuil, Jacob Arcangeli, Adam P Showman, Mark S Marley

Exoplanet phase curves: observations and theory

ArXiv 1711.07696 (2017)
Vivien Parmentier, Ian Crossfield

The cloudy shape of hot Jupiter thermal phase curves

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 501:1 (2021) 78-108
Vivien Parmentier, Adam P Showman, Jonathan J Fortney

Understanding and mitigating biases when studying inhomogeneous emission spectra with JWST

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Royal Astronomical Society 493:3 (2020) 4342-4354,
Jake Taylor, Vivien Parmentier, Patrick Irwin, Suzanne Aigrain, Graham Lee, Joshua Krissansen-Totton
See all publications

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