Analysis of numerous spectra to investigate Calcium H and K lines relating to evaporating exoplanets to identify sites of interest.

Researcher: Rajesh Patel
Supervised by: Don Pollacco
Home department: Physics

Expected start date: 04/07/2016
Expected end date: 04/09/2016

My name is Rajesh Patel. I am a Mphys student who has finished the 3rd Year. My interest in Physics tends towards Astronomy. I am interested in research and wanted to undertake a URSS to see if the life of research is one that can suit me. My hobbies are I like playing football, I enjoy running, gaming and going to the gym. I also attend debating sessions with the debating society and I was also a member of the salsa society in my second year.

This project is concerned with evaporating exoplanets. It has been observed that some stars have suppressed Calcium H and K emission lines; this is indicative of a low activity star. However, other information about the star indicates that the star is relatively young and so the activity should be high, this is supported by other information determined about the star. This contradiction is explained by an evaporating exoplanet. An evaporating exoplanet is a gas giant (similar to Jupiter) that is abnormally close to its parent star, so much so that the atmosphere is being absorbed by the star causing the star to be surrounded by a cloud of dust. My project is primarily concerned with identifying the features of the systems that these planets are located in and where they are located. This would allow further observations to determine if an exoplanet is present in these systems if this is the case, the method of detection that has been developed will allow evaporating exoplanets to be determined and allow further observations to determine more about them.