Origin and characterization of super-Earths and sub-Neptunes

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Parc, Léna, Venturini, Julia, Bouchy, François, Helled, Ravit, Dorn, Caroline, Leleu, Adrien, Alibert, Yann, Müller, Simon, Wang, Haiyang
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Parc, Léna
Venturini, Julia
Bouchy, François
Helled, Ravit
Dorn, Caroline
Leleu, Adrien
Alibert, Yann
Müller, Simon
Wang, Haiyang
author_facet Parc, Léna
Venturini, Julia
Bouchy, François
Helled, Ravit
Dorn, Caroline
Leleu, Adrien
Alibert, Yann
Müller, Simon
Wang, Haiyang
contents Super-Earths and sub-Neptunes represent the most common class of exoplanets discovered to date in our galaxy, yet they have no direct analogues in the Solar System. Since 2014, researchers within the NCCR PlanetS have made significant contributions to understanding the origin and nature of these small planets. This chapter provides an overview of the progress made in their detection, characterization, and theoretical interpretation during the 2014-2025 period. The combined data from space-based photometric missions such as Kepler and TESS, together with ground-based radial velocity campaigns using state-of-the-art spectrographs (e.g., HARPS, ESPRESSO, NIRPS), have enabled detailed demographic analyses of these planets. These observational efforts are complemented by theoretical work exploring their internal structures, bulk compositions, formation and evolution, shedding light on the physical processes responsible for the observed diversity. As high-precision observations from facilities like JWST begin to probe the atmospheric composition of individual planets, a more complete picture of super-Earth and sub-Neptune origins is emerging, one that continues to challenge and refine current planet formation theories.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_11779
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Origin and characterization of super-Earths and sub-Neptunes
Parc, Léna
Venturini, Julia
Bouchy, François
Helled, Ravit
Dorn, Caroline
Leleu, Adrien
Alibert, Yann
Müller, Simon
Wang, Haiyang
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Super-Earths and sub-Neptunes represent the most common class of exoplanets discovered to date in our galaxy, yet they have no direct analogues in the Solar System. Since 2014, researchers within the NCCR PlanetS have made significant contributions to understanding the origin and nature of these small planets. This chapter provides an overview of the progress made in their detection, characterization, and theoretical interpretation during the 2014-2025 period. The combined data from space-based photometric missions such as Kepler and TESS, together with ground-based radial velocity campaigns using state-of-the-art spectrographs (e.g., HARPS, ESPRESSO, NIRPS), have enabled detailed demographic analyses of these planets. These observational efforts are complemented by theoretical work exploring their internal structures, bulk compositions, formation and evolution, shedding light on the physical processes responsible for the observed diversity. As high-precision observations from facilities like JWST begin to probe the atmospheric composition of individual planets, a more complete picture of super-Earth and sub-Neptune origins is emerging, one that continues to challenge and refine current planet formation theories.
title Origin and characterization of super-Earths and sub-Neptunes
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.11779