Title:
Diamonds are Forever: Probing the Carbon Budget and Formation History of the Ultra-Puffy hot Jupiter WASP-127b
Agreement Number:
22JWGO1-06
Agreement Value:
$30,000.00
Agreement Date:
Mar 24, 2022 - Mar 31, 2024
Description:
Following the JWST ERS and Cycle 1 GO Announcement of Opportunity published on June 14, 2021, the CSA is providing funding via a Grant Agreement to the university to conduct their research using the JWST data.
Hot Jupiters present an unprecedented opportunity to answer long-standing question regarding the formation processes of giant planets by measuring the carbon-to-oxygen ratio of their atmospheres. WASP-127b currently harbours both the strongest known water and carbon absorption features of any exoplanet to date as measured from HST and Spitzer. Unfortunately, those observations cannot distinguish between a CO2-rich low C/O case, or a CO-rich high C/O case. Both of these scenarios would have drastically different implications not only regarding WASP-127b's atmospheric chemistry, but also in terms of what mechanisms are at play during giant planet formation. We propose to observe a single transit of the ultra-puffy hot Jupiter WASP-127b using NIRSpec BOTS to determine what is the dominant carbon species of its atmosphere. Distinguishing between these scenarios will provide invaluable information regarding the formation process not only of the intriguing population of hot Jupiters, but also giant planets in general.
Organization:
Canadian Space Agency
Expected Results:
The Research component of the program provides financial support to organizations to conduct space related research and development in priority areas. It will support targeted knowledge development and innovation to sustain and enhance the Canadian capacity to use space to address national needs and priorities in the future.
Location:
Montreal, Quebec, CA H3C 3J7
Reference Number:
003-2021-2022-Q4-00034
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Additional Information:
Funding will be distributed over 2 financial years (FY) as follows:
Year 1 (FY 21/22): $14,118
Year 2 (FY 22/23): $15,882
Recipient's Operating Name:
University of Montreal
Recipient's Legal Name:
Université de Montréal
Program:
Class Grant and Contribution Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology
Program Purpose:
This program supports knowledge development and innovation in the CSA's priority areas while increasing the awareness and participation of Canadians in space-related disciplines and activities.
The Research Component aims to support the development of science and technology; foster the continual development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified people in Canada; and support information gathering and space-related studies and research pertaining to Canadian Space Agency priorities.