The Nature and Characterization of M Dwarf Terrestrial Planetary Atmospheres:
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Lincowski, Andrew Peter
Title Proper by Another Author
A Theoretical Case Study of the TRAPPIST-1 Planetary System
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Meadows, Victoria S
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
University of Washington
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2020
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
296
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Body granting the degree
University of Washington
Text preceding or following the note
2020
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
In the next few years, the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), along with the construction of new ground-based observatories, will provide the opportunity to attempt atmospheric characterization of terrestrial planets in the habitable zones of nearby M dwarf stars. For the first time, the assessment of habitability and the possibility of detecting biosignatures from planets around other stars will be within the capabilities of astronomical observatories. Truly Earth-like planets (i.e. orbiting a Sun-like, G-type star) are not yet accessible, and may not be until the selection, construction, and launch of a next-generation space telescope, such as LUVOIR or HabEx, which are under consideration for potential prioritization by the 2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics. In the immediate future, it will only be possible to characterize the atmospheres of Earth-sized planets that orbit M dwarf hosts, because the methods of observation for imminent observatories favor shorter-period planets and stronger signal can be achieved with smaller star-planet size ratios.