Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-27-2026

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Keywords

brown dwarfs; T dwarfs; L dwarfs; exoplanet atmospheres; exoplanet atmospheric composition; hot Jupiters

Abstract

We present results from examining the silicate cloud modeling of four JWST-observed hot Jupiters in the context of brown dwarf theory to further explore signatures of formation in present-day atmospheres. We contextualize our understanding of protoplanetary disk refractory chemistry with empirical evidence from chondritic meteorites to show that giant planets forming and accreting in the outer disk adopt their stellar Mg/Si value. We show that current silicate cloud species determinations of WASP-17 b, WASP-107 b, WASP-39 b, and HD 189733 b are in line with predictions laid out in E. Calamari et al. based on each system’s host star Mg/Si ratio, further supporting this hypothesis. We discuss physical motivations for potential atmospheric scenarios where apparent silicate cloud species are not in agreement with those predicted by their host star chemistry. Additionally, we compare current transit spectroscopy for three of these four exoplanets against brown dwarf spectra to examine molecular absorption trends across the substellar mass temperature regime.

Source Publication Title

The Astrophysical Journal Letters

Publisher

American Astronomical Society

Volume

1000

Issue

2

First Page

L51

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ae497d

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