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Project Reports

• Characterization of Terrestrial Planets From Disk-Averaged Spectra: Spatially and Spectrally Resolved Planetary Models

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2 7.2

• Planetary Biology, Evolution, and Intelligence

  Chris Chyba, Cynthia Phillips, Kevin Hand- The project has two components. The first, an overview of the astrobiological potential of various geological features on Europa, is proceeding well — we are continuing the study of various proposed formation mechanisms for different feature types such as ridges, bands, and chaotic terrain.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1 5.2 5.3 6.1 6.2 7.1

• Disks and Dips

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2

• Project 1. From Molecular Clouds to Habitable Planetary Systems

  The work this year of Co-Investigator Chambers involved the development of a model for the oligarchic growth stage of planet formation, a key stage that determines many of the final characteristics of a planetary system

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 2.1 3.1 7.2

• A 1-D Climate Model for Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 7.2

• Climate, Habitability, and the Atmosphere on Early Mars

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 2.1 4.1 7.1

• Module 3: Nature of Planetary Systems

  Direct detection for extrasolar planets is fast becoming a reality, and LAPLACE is well-poised to be the forefront of this new area of research. Using multiple techniques we are now in the process of carrying out surveys for young planets as well as developing new techniques which will push our sensitivity to older planets around more nearby stars.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2

• Direct Detection and Characterization of Extrasolar Planets

  Drake Deming and collaborators expanded their direct detection of “hot Jupiter” planets orbiting other stars

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2

• No Title Given

  We have been observing circumstellar environments around
  other stars to learn about the formation and evolution of extrasolar planetary systems. There are two highlights of our work

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2

• Habitable Planets

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 2.1 4.1 4.3

• Database of Stellar Spectra to Support Extrasolar Planet Modeling

  We established a database of stellar spectra during the past year to serve as a
  dynamic repository within the VPL website for accurate reference spectra of stars
  that are considered relevant hosts in the search for habitable exoplanets.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2 4.1 6.2 7.2

• Model Synthesis and Architecture

  The VPL integrated model to develop self-consistent planetary environments has acquired several separate components into its model suite over the past year, including weathering, land model, and tectonic/solid earth components. These are now housed in a version controlled online database of all VPL software components, including the coupled online model as well as other model components under development.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 4.1 4.3 7.2

• Modeling Terrestrial Planet Formation and Composition

  We have run the most realistic simulations of the final stages in the formation of Earth-like planets to date (Raymond), including 10 times as many particles as previous simulations.

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 3.1

• Planetary Habitability and Life Detection (Sigurdsson)

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2

• Extrasolar Planet Detection and Characterization

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2 7.2

• Search for Planets Around Evolved Stars (Wolszczan)

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2

• A Search for H3+ Emission From Close-In Exoplanets

  ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2