Exploring the link between star and planet formation with Ariel

Experimental Astronomy, vol. 53, pp. 225–278

Abstract

The goal of the Ariel space mission is to observe a large and diversified population of transiting planets around a range of host star types to collect information on their atmospheric composition. The planetary bulk and atmospheric compositions bear the marks of the way the planets formed: Ariel's observations will therefore provide an unprecedented wealth of data to advance our understanding of planet formation in our Galaxy. A number of environmental and evolutionary factors, however, can affect the final atmospheric composition. Here we provide a concise overview of which factors and effects of the star and planet formation processes can shape the atmospheric compositions that will be observed by Ariel, and highlight how Ariel's characteristics make this mission optimally suited to address this very complex problem.

Authors 8

1. Camilla Danielski

   Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain

2. D. Fedele

   Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory · Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, I-50127 Firenze, Italy

   INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, I-10025 Pino Torinese, Italy

3. M. G. Guarcello

   Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, Piazza del Parlamento 1, I-90134 Palermo, Italy

4. Masahiro Ikoma

   The University of Tokyo

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 Japan

5. Mihkel Kama

   Tartu Observatory · University College London · University of Tartu

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT UK

   Tartu Observatory, University of Tartu, Observatooriumi 1, 61602 Tõravere, Estonia

6. J. M. Diederik Kruijssen

   Heidelberg University

   Affiliation as printed

   Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Mönchhofstraße 12-14, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

7. Fabrizio Oliva

   Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Space Astrophysics and Planetology INAF-IAPS, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, Italy

8. E. Schisano

   Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Space Astrophysics and Planetology INAF-IAPS, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, Italy