Greg Laughlin
University of California at Santa Cruz, USA
Greg Laughlin (left) with Michael R. Meier
Date
6 October 2010
Host
Michael R. Meyer
Title
Probing the Physical Properties of Extrasolar Planets
Abstract
Research on Extrasolar Planets is rapidly progressing from a science of discovery to one of characterization. In this talk, I will give an overview of the observational progress that has been made in studying the atmospheres and interiors of transiting extrasolar planets. I will highlight the problem of understanding the bewildering range of observed planetary radii, and I will attempt to connect the observational facts to a robust theoretical framework.