Developing a Light Curve Model to Demonstrate Exoplanet Debris Clouds

This project developed an exoplanet transit and lightcurve model for the analytical purpose of testing if satellite debris clouds around transiting exoplanets could be detected from Earth, or near-Earth. Previously, all known models of similar capability focused on direct data analysis from inputs such as TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) – prohibiting data synthesis, and thus extrapolatory analysis. Python via JupyterLab was used to develop an initial basic transit model and light curve simulation. Further implementation of limb-darkening, tangential atmospheric gradients and direct source input from TESS for planetary system parameters (radii, orbital periods, temperature, distances, etc.) refined the precision of the program. This model was then calibrated against known TESS light-curves and models and shown to be accurate. Data was then synthesized to mimic the appearance of an exoplanet with an artificial reflective debris cloud, and a new light curve was generated. It was determined that a very minute difference was present at the beginning and end of the transit light curves when an artificial satellite cloud was present. These peaks are likely too subtle to be extractable from current satellite observations.