What physical processes drive the origin and fate of planets, satellites, and their grains, lavas, gases?

I study energetics as it applies to planet & satellite evolution. Below are a few research subfields (space sciences, exoplanet atmospheres, exomoon detection, volcanology, high-resolution spectroscopy, exosphere) and worlds (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Titan, Enceladus, Kuiper Belt Objects, rocky exoplanets, close-in gas giant exoplanets) our group focuses on.

Europa & Ganymede

Will Europa Clipper and JUICE detect O₂ atmospheric bulges at dusk?

3-D Exosphere General Models (EGM) for Ganymede (Leblanc, Oza et al. 2017, Icarus) and Europa (Oza 2017,2019). Towards understanding Jovian plasma interactions with their asymmetric and evolving exospheres and in comparison to JWST and KECK spectra.

Io: the Benchmark for Gravitational Tidal Volcanism

How does volcanism shape Io's sulfur atmosphere? How does Io's exosphere sputter into its plasma torus?

Simulating Io's SO2 outgassing driven by gravitational tidal heating, and its correlation to infrared spectra. Predicting Io's diurnal evolution with tidally-locked exosphere models. Understanding Io's role in the Laplace Resonance.

Atmospheric Escape & Hydrothermal Venting

What mechanisms dominate atmospheric escape?

Studying N₂ & CH₄ origin and escape. Kinetic modeling of photochemistry coupled with outgassing models. Astrobiology and hydrothermal venting of cryogenic ocean worlds of various compositions.

Extrasolar Volcanic Worlds in Evaporative Transmission Spectroscopy

Sodium Lanterns --> spectral indications of extrasolar geologic activity?

SERPENS 3-D Monte Carlo (Meyer zu Westram, Oza and Galli 2024, JGR) simulation of an evaporating body transiting its primary (inclined), forming a torus and local cloud visible in evaporative transmission spectroscopy (Gebek & Oza 2020, MNRAS).

Star–Planet–Moons: Detection & Dynamics

Exomoons: how many exist in the galaxy? are close-orbiting exomoons captured? do close-in gas giant exoplanets have a tidal Q larger than solar system gas giants?

Starting with the circular restricted 3-body problem one can attempt to make approximations to infer the stability of a star-planet-natural satellite system. Inferring the satellite orbital period from precise Doppler shift measurements is one step which requires dozens of nights of high-resolution sodium spectra transits.

Extrasolar Plasma Tori

Do disintegrating rocky worlds ignite a torus?

Investigating how space weather and stellar winds balance volcanism, outgassing and atmospheric escape from lava worlds. We use JWST/MIRI/NIRSpec/NIRCam to study SO₂, SiO₂, and CO₂ as well as CHEOPS and HST to study toroidal dust and ion signatures.

Molecular Oxygen on Ocean Worlds: Metabolism for Life Beyond Earth

How much radiolytically trapped O2 downwells to the subsurface ocean?

Radiolysis models of O2 trapped in water ice as bubbles seen in 5777 Å by HST/STIS and ground-based telescopes. Estimating downwelling timescales to water reservoirs or subsurface oceans on irradiated icy worlds. Studying astrobiological evolution of organics on Europa, Titan and Enceladus.