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SUMMARY:Toward a Self-Consistent Evaluation of Gas Dwarf Scenarios for Tem
 perate Sub-Neptunes - Lorenzo Pica-Ciamarra / IoA
DTSTART:20241127T131500Z
DTEND:20241127T134000Z
UID:TALK224965@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Xander Byrne
DESCRIPTION:Sub-Neptunes -- planets intermediate in size between Earth and
  Neptune -- are a major focus in exoplanet science. Despite having no Sola
 r System counterparts\, they are the largest known class of exoplanets. Th
 ey exhibit an unexpected bimodal size distribution\, the larger portion of
  which has a density inconsistent with an Earth-like rocky composition. Th
 is has led to hypotheses about their internal composition\, including "gas
  dwarfs" (rocky planets with hydrogen-rich envelopes) and "volatile-rich" 
 scenarios (water-rich planets with thin hydrogen atmospheres). Interest ha
 s grown with suggestions that some volatile-rich planets could be potentia
 lly habitable "hycean" worlds. Notably\, JWST observations of the temperat
 e sub-Neptune K2-18 b have been variously interpreted: as confirming its h
 ycean candidate status\, supporting a gas-dwarf scenario with a magma ocea
 n\, or classifying it as a mini-Neptune.\nIn this seminar\, I will present
  an integrated framework we have developed to model gas dwarf scenarios --
  with and without magma oceans -- on temperate sub-Neptunes and to predict
  their unique observable features. I will then discuss how we applied this
  framework to K2-18 b\, and compare our predictions with available observa
 tions to draw conclusions about its likely internal structure.
LOCATION:The Hoyle Lecture Theatre + Zoom 
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