EXOA16

This session will focus on the latest research concerning the most numerous class of exoplanets: small worlds, encompassing rocky planets like Earths and Super-Earths, as well as volatile-rich planets like Mini-Neptunes. We invite contributions that explore the properties, formation pathways, and habitability potential of these key planetary types.

Key areas of interest include:
Atmospheric Characterization: New results on the composition, structure, and dynamics of the atmospheres of small exoplanets, utilizing facilities like JWST and focusing on the volatile content, clouds, and potential detection of biosignatures.
Mass-Radius Relationship and Interior Structure: Studies that probe the transition between rocky (Earths/Super-Earths) and volatile-dominated (Mini-Neptunes) planets, including interior modeling, precise density measurements, and the physical processes driving atmospheric loss (e.g., photoevaporation).
Formation and Evolution: Theoretical and observational work investigating the birth environments, migration, and long-term evolution of small planets, particularly concerning their initial volatile budget and the influence of the host star.
Detection and Demographics: Advances in the discovery and precise characterization of small exoplanets from current and future surveys (e.g., TESS, PLATO), and studies of their occurrence rates and population demographics across different stellar types.
The session aims to advance our understanding of the fundamental physics governing the formation and diversity of the most common planets in the galaxy and their potential for hosting life.