Exoplanetary Atmospheres - (Princeton Astrophysics) by Kevin Heng (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An essential introduction to the theory of exoplanetary atmospheres

The study of exoplanetary atmospheres--that is, of planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system--may be our best hope for discovering life elsewhere in the universe. This dynamic, interdisciplinary field requires practitioners to apply knowledge from atmospheric and climate science, astronomy and astrophysics, chemistry, geology and geophysics, planetary science, and even biology. Exoplanetary Atmospheres provides an essential introduction to the theoretical foundations of this cutting-edge new science.

Exoplanetary Atmospheres covers the physics of radiation, fluid dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, and atmospheric escape. It draws on simple analytical models to aid learning, and features a wealth of problem sets, some of which are open-ended. This authoritative and accessible graduate textbook uses a coherent and self-consistent set of notation and definitions throughout, and also includes appendixes containing useful formulae in thermodynamics and vector calculus as well as selected Python scripts.

Exoplanetary Atmospheres prepares PhD students for research careers in the field, and is ideal for self-study as well as for use in a course setting.

• The first graduate textbook on the theory of exoplanetary atmospheres
• Unifies knowledge from atmospheric and climate science, astronomy and astrophysics, chemistry, planetary science, and more
• Covers radiative transfer, fluid dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, and atmospheric escape
• Provides simple analytical models and a wealth of problem sets
• Includes appendixes on thermodynamics, vector calculus, tabulated Gibbs free energies, and Python scripts
• Solutions manual (available only to professors)

From the Back Cover

"Heng presents a large body of background knowledge, drawing from diverse fields, to give students the necessary foundation to understand current state-of-the-art research on exoplanetary atmospheres."--Mark Marley, NASA Ames Research Center

"An excellent resource for newcomers to the field as well as experts with years of experience."--Jacob L. Bean, University of Chicago

"Highly recommended. What makes this book stand out is that it is really geared to teaching students how to model atmospheres as a whole--not just one or two particular aspects, but the complete picture, which is a must for the future endeavor of understanding exoplanetary atmospheres."--Ignas Snellen, Leiden University

"The scope of this book is ambitious. Heng covers a tremendous range of topics, which are needed to characterize a very complicated set of systems."--Jared Workman, Colorado Mesa University

Review Quotes

"An essential introduction to the theoretical foundations of this cutting-edge new science. . . . Authoritative and accessible. . . . Exoplanetary Atmospheres prepares Ph.D. students for research careers in the field and is ideal for self-study as well as for use in a course setting."-- "Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin"

"Winner of the 2018 Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award, American Astronomical Society"

About the Author

Kevin Heng is professor of astronomy and planetary sciences at the University of Bern in Switzerland, where he is director of the Center for Space and Habitability and leads the Exoplanets and Exoclimes Group, and is on the core science team of the CHEOPS space mission of the European Space Agency.