Lighting up dark exomoons: observational signatures of tidally induced volcanism in other worlds

Kleisioti, E. (2025)

Doctoral Thesis

The work done during this PhD research, aims to investigate the effect of tidal heating
in the observability of extra-solar satellites around exoplanets. More particularly, this
thesis focuses on the effects of tidal heating on the detectability of exomoons around directly
imaged and radial velocity exoplanets, IPMOs or BDs. The main goal is to identify
the physical and/or orbital parameters that would make THEMs detectable with different
methods and existing or future instruments. In parallel, we also investigate how well the
physical properties of potentially detected exomoons might be characterized according
to observational and theoretical constraints. The second part of this thesis uses interior
models used in the characterization of Solar System moons, to assess potential interior
structures of the likely icy planets of the system Trappist-1. We model the tidal heat
produced in their interior and identify the thickness and depth of any potential subsurface
oceans. We also conclude on the detectability of cryovolcanism in the system.

• Moons
• Lo
• Tidal heating
• Detectability
• Cryovolcanism
• Trappist-1

• All authors: Kleisioti, E.
• Supervisor: Kenworthy, M.A.
• Co-supervisor: Dirkx, D.
• Committee: Snellen, I.A.G.; Hogerheijde, M.R.; Miguel, Y.; Dominik, C.; Cazaux, S.M.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Leiden Observatory, Faculty of Science, Leiden University
• Date: 2025-11-13
• DOI: doi:10.60602/1887/4282613