A significant fraction of super-Earths and sub-Neptunes are thought to experience an extreme loss of volatiles because of atmospheric evaporation in the early stages of their life. Though the mechanisms behind the extreme mass loss are not fully understood, two contenders have been widely discussed: photoevaporation from X-ray and ultraviolet irradiation and core powered mass loss. In this talk, I will discuss the new model of Modirrousta-Galian & Korenaga (2023), suggesting that both mechanisms occur but with different timescales and that atmospheric evaporation can be classified under three regimes. This talk will summarize by explaining why the next step in exoplanetary science is to incorporate more realistic formational and geophysical modeling, and how such models could be tested through observations.
BIO
Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University, 2021-present
Ph.D., Physics, University of Palermo (UniPa), National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Palermo, Italy, 2022
M.Sc., Planetary Science, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom, 2018.
B.Sc., Astrophysics, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom, 2017.
