Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-16-2026

Abstract

TESS has discovered hundreds of exoplanets, many orbiting bright stars ideal for mass measurements and atmospheric characterization. They have shed new light on individual planets and larger populations alike. One such population is warm Jupiters – giant planets with periods between 10 and 200 days that bridge the gap to the solar system’s gas giants. I present my thesis results, characterizing three warm Jupiter systems with architectures that indicate distinct histories. TOI-4600 hosts a warm Jupiter and cold Jupiter. The latter is the second longest-period planet discovered by TESS. TOI-4127 b is a highly-eccentric warm Jupiter on a well-aligned orbit. An undetected second planet or star could explain the orbit as could resonant interactions with the protoplanetary disk. TOI-201 consists of a warm Jupiter, inner super-Earth, and outer brown dwarf. The brown dwarf’s eccentricity, the non-zero mutual inclinations, and the presence of the super-Earth raise questions for planet formation theories.

Degree Name

Physics

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Physics & Astronomy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Diana Dragomir

Second Committee Member

Ylva Pihlstrom

Third Committee Member

Michelle Kunimoto

Fourth Committee Member

Bryan Butler

Language

English

Keywords

Exoplanets, exoplanet characterization, exoplanet dynamics

Document Type

Dissertation

Available for download on Monday, May 15, 2028

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