Simulating exoplanetary atmospheres in the laboratory: Current capabilities of the Berlin atmospheric simulation experimental chamber (BASE)

Abstract

In recent years, the remarkable progress in exoplanet science has unveiled a stunning diversity of exoplanets. Technological advancements have significantly expanded our capacity to investigate planetary objects beyond our solar system, which exhibit diverse properties including their sizes, compositions, and orbital characteristics. Although understanding the complex chemical-climate responses occurring in planetary-body atmospheres plays a pivotal role in determining potential habitability, much work is still required in this field. To interpret forthcoming spectral measurements obtained from exoplanetary atmospheres, there is a concerted effort to model these worlds. However, model parameters are often inferred from limited data sets. Consequently, laboratory-based atmospheric simulations are necessary for understanding complex gas-phase interactions and to complement atmospheric models through experimental examination of input parameters. In this paper we introduce the new Berlin Atmospheric Simulation Experimental chamber (BASE), present its current capabilities and provide an overview of experimental scenarios with applications ranging from planetary objects in the solar system (e.g. Mars, Venus, Titan) to Earth-like exoplanets.