Data structures for photoabsorption within the ExoMol project

Abstract

The ExoMol database currently provides comprehensive line lists for modelling the spectroscopic properties of molecules in hot atmospheres. Extending the spectral range of the data provided to ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths brings into play three processes not currently accounted for in the ExoMol data structure, namely photodissociation, which is an important chemical process in its own right,the opacity contribution due to continuum absorption and predissociation which can lead to significant and observable line broadening effects. Data structures are proposed which will allow these processes to be correctly captured and the (strong) temperature-dependent effects predicted for UV molecular photoabsorption in general and photodissociation in particular to be represented.

This version contains some minor corrections compared to the published version

References in corpus (6)

• The 2020 release of the ExoMol database: molecular line lists for exoplanet and other hot atmospheres
• Spectroscopic line parameters of NO, NO${}_2$, and N${}_2$O for the HITEMP database
• VUV-absorption cross section of carbon dioxide from 150 to 800 K and applications to warm exoplanetary atmospheres
• A high-resolution line list for AlO
• ExoMol line lists -- XLV. Rovibronic molecular line lists of calcium monohydride (CaH) and magnesium monohydride (MgH)
• AlH lines in the blue spectrum of Proxima Centauri