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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.15916 |
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| _version_ | 1866915253451751424 |
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| author | Taylor, Jake |
| author_facet | Taylor, Jake |
| contents | Determining the composition of an exoplanet atmosphere relies on the presence of detectable spectral features. The strongest spectral features, including DMS, look approximately Gaussian. Here, I perform a suite of Gaussian feature analyses to find any statistically significant spectral features in the recently published MIRI/LRS spectrum of K2-18b (N. Madhusudhan et al. 2025). In N. Madhusudhan et al. 2025, they claim a 3.4-$σ$ detection of spectral features compared to a flat line. In 5 out of 6 tests, I find the data preferred a flat line over a Gaussian model, with a $χ^{2}_ν$ of 1.06. When centering the Gaussian where the absorptions for DMS and DMDS peak, I find ln(B) = 1.21 in favour of the Gaussian model, with a $χ^{2}_ν$ of 0.99. With only $\sim$2-$σ$ in favour of Gaussian features, I conclude no strong statistical evidence for spectral features. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_15916 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Are there Spectral Features in the MIRI/LRS Transmission Spectrum of K2-18b? Taylor, Jake Earth and Planetary Astrophysics Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics Determining the composition of an exoplanet atmosphere relies on the presence of detectable spectral features. The strongest spectral features, including DMS, look approximately Gaussian. Here, I perform a suite of Gaussian feature analyses to find any statistically significant spectral features in the recently published MIRI/LRS spectrum of K2-18b (N. Madhusudhan et al. 2025). In N. Madhusudhan et al. 2025, they claim a 3.4-$σ$ detection of spectral features compared to a flat line. In 5 out of 6 tests, I find the data preferred a flat line over a Gaussian model, with a $χ^{2}_ν$ of 1.06. When centering the Gaussian where the absorptions for DMS and DMDS peak, I find ln(B) = 1.21 in favour of the Gaussian model, with a $χ^{2}_ν$ of 0.99. With only $\sim$2-$σ$ in favour of Gaussian features, I conclude no strong statistical evidence for spectral features. |
| title | Are there Spectral Features in the MIRI/LRS Transmission Spectrum of K2-18b? |
| topic | Earth and Planetary Astrophysics Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.15916 |