Bryce Croll (U Toronto)

Title: Exploring the Diversity of Planets in other Solar Systems

Abstract: I will discuss the scientific motivation and preliminary
results from the various ongoing observational projects of my thesis
all related to the topic of exploring the diversity of hot Jupiter
exoplanets. In particular, I will present the preliminary results from
the ongoing CFHT project using WIRCam to search for thermal emission
in K-band from the hottest of the hot Jupiters. In addition I will
explain the scientific motivation for two projects: one ongoing
project using GMOS on Gemini-South & North to search for atmospheric
absorption from various chemicals in the transmission spectra of hot
Jupiters, and the other using pending Spitzer observations to
scrutinize the flash-heating and subsequent cooling off of an
eccentric (e~0.67) hot Jupiter as it makes its "Big Swing" from
periastron to near apastron.