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Research Articles

Apai D, R Barnes, MM Murphy, T Lichtenberg et al. A Terminology and Quantitative Framework for Assessing the Habitability of Solar System and Extraterrestrial Worlds. The Planetary Science Journal (2025). pdf

 

Boer ID, H NichollsT Lichtenberg. Absence of a Runaway Greenhouse Limit on Lava Planets. The Astrophysical Journal (2025). pdf

 

Schlecker M, D Apai, A Affholder, S Ranjan, R Ferrière, KK Hardegree-Ullman, T Lichtenberg, S Mazevet. Bioverse: Potentially Observable Exoplanet Biosignature Patterns Under the UV Threshold Hypothesis for the Origin of Life. The Astrophysical Journal (2025). pdf

 

Farhat M, P Auclair-Desrotour, G Boué, T Lichtenberg, J Laskar. Tides on Lava Worlds: Application to Close-in Exoplanets and the Early Earth-Moon System. The Astrophysical Journal 979, 133 (2025). pdf

 

Hammond M, CM Guimond, T Lichtenberg, H Nicholls, et al. Reliable Detections of Atmospheres on Rocky Exoplanets with Photometric JWST Phase Curves. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 978, L40 (2025). pdf

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Nicholls H, RT Pierrehumbert, T Lichtenberg, L Soucasse, S Smeets. Convective shutdown in the atmospheres of lava worlds. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 536, 2957-2971 (2025). pdf

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Nicholls H, T Lichtenberg, DJ Bower, RT Pierrehumbert. Magma ocean evolution at arbitrary redox state. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 129, 2024JE008576 (2024). pdf

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Cesario L, T Lichtenberg et al. Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE). XIV. Finding terrestrial protoplanets in the galactic neighborhood. Astronomy & Astrophysics 692, A172 (2024). pdf

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Eatson JW, RJ Parker, T Lichtenberg. Towards a unified injection model of short-lived radioisotopes in N-body simulations of star-forming regions. The Astrophysical Journal 977, 13 (2024). pdf

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Meier TG, DJ Bower, T Lichtenberg, M Hammond, PJ Tackley, RT Pierrehumbert, et al. Geodynamics of super-Earth GJ 486b. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 129, e2024JE008491 (2024). pdf

 

Eatson JW, T Lichtenberg, RJ Parker, TV Gerya. Devolatilization of extrasolar planetesimals by 60Fe and 26Al heating. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 528, 6619-6630 (2024). pdf

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Shorttle O, S Jordan, H Nicholls, T Lichtenberg, DJ Bower. Distinguishing oceans of water from magma on mini-Neptune K2-18b. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 962, L8 (2024). pdf

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Schlecker M, D Apai, T Lichtenberg, G Bergsten, A Salvador, KK Hardegree-Ullman. Bioverse: The Habitable Zone Inner Edge Discontinuity as an Imprint of Runaway Greenhouse Climates on Exoplanet Demographics. The Planetary Science Journal 5, 3 (2024). pdfvideo

 

Patel M, CKM Polius, M Ridsdill-Smith, T Lichtenberg, R Parker. Photoevaporation versus enrichment in the cradle of the Sun. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 525, 2399–2410 (2023). pdf

 

Meier TG, DJ Bower, T Lichtenberg, M Hammond, PJ Tackley. Interior dynamics of super-Earth 55 Cancri e. Astronomy & Astrophysics 678, A29 (2023). pdf

 

Piette AAA, P Gao, K Brugman, A Shahar, T Lichtenberg, F Miozzi, P Driscoll. Rocky planet or water world? Observability of low-density lava world atmospheres. The Astrophysical Journal 954, 29 (2023). pdf

 

Parker RJ, T Lichtenberg, M Patel, CKM Polius, M Ridsdill-Smith. Short-lived radioisotope enrichment in star-forming regions from stellar winds and supernovae. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 521, 4838–4851 (2023). pdf

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Janson M, J Patel, SC Ringqvist, C Lu, I Rebollido, T Lichtenberg, A Brandeker, D Angerhausen, L Noack. Imaging of exocomets with infrared interferometry. Astronomy & Astrophysics 671, A114  (2023). pdf

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Stammler SM, T Lichtenberg, J Drążkowska, T BirnstielLeaky dust traps: How fragmentation impacts dust filtering by planets. Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters 670, L5(2023). pdf

 

Bonsor A, T Lichtenberg, J Drążkowska, AM BuchanRapid formation of exoplanetesimals revealed by white dwarfs. Nature Astronomy 7, 39–48 (2023). pdf, article

 

Graham RJ, T Lichtenberg, RT Pierrehumbert. CO2 ocean bistability on terrestrial exoplanets. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 127, 2022JE007456 (2022). videopdf

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Lichtenberg T, MS Clement. Reduced late bombardment on rocky exoplanets around M-dwarfs. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 938, L3 (2022). video, pdf

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Curry A, A Bonsor, T Lichtenberg, O Shorttle. Prevalence of short-lived radioactive isotopes across exoplanetary systems inferred from polluted white dwarfs. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 515, 395–406 (2022). pdf

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Dannert F et al. (incl. TLLarge Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): II. Signal simulation, signal extraction and fundamental exoplanet parameters from single epoch observations. Astronomy & Astrophysics 664, A22 (2022). pdf

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Quanz SP et al. (incl. TLLarge Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): I. Improved exoplanet detection yield estimates for a large mid-infrared space-interferometer mission. Astronomy & Astrophysics 664, A21 (2022). pdf, video, news

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Jin Z, M Bose, T Lichtenberg, GD Mulders. New evidence for wet accretion of inner solar system planetesimals from meteorites Chelyabinsk and Benenitra. The Planetary Science Journal 2, 244 (2021). pdf

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Tsai S-M, H Innes, T Lichtenberg, J Taylor, M Malik, K Chubb, RT Pierrehumbert. Inferring Shallow Surfaces on sub-Neptune Exoplanets with JWST. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 922, L27 (2021). pdf 

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Dorn C, T LichtenbergHidden water in magma ocean exoplanets. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 922, L4 (2021). pdf, video

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Graham RJ, T Lichtenberg, R Boukrouche, RT Pierrehumbert. A multispecies pseudoadiabat for simulating condensable-rich exoplanet atmospheres. The Planetary Science Journal 2, 207 (2021). pdf, video

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Boukrouche R, T Lichtenberg, RT Pierrehumbert. Beyond runaway: initiation of the post-runaway greenhouse state on rocky exoplanets. The Astrophysical Journal 919, 130 (2021). pdf, video

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Lichtenberg TRedox hysteresis of super-Earth exoplanets from magma ocean circulation. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 914, L4 (2021).  pdf, video, blog

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Lichtenberg T, S Krijt. System-level fractionation of carbon from disk and planetesimal processing. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 913, L20 (2021). pdf, video, blog

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Meier TG, DJ Bower, T Lichtenberg, PJ Tackley, B-O Demory. Hemispheric Tectonics on super-Earth LHS 3844b. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 908, L48 (2021). pdf, video, blog 

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Lichtenberg T, DJ Bower, M Hammond, R Boukrouche, P Sanan, S-M Tsai, RT Pierrehumbert. Vertically resolved magma ocean-protoatmosphere evolution: H2, H2O, CO2, CH4, CO, O2, and N2 as primary absorbers. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 126, e2020JE006711 (2021). pdf, video, blog   

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Lichtenberg T, J Drążkowska, M Schönbächler, GJ Golabek, TO Hands. Bifurcation of planetary building blocks during Solar System formation. Science 371, 365–370 (2021). pdf, video, blog   

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Lichtenberg T, GJ Golabek, R Burn, MR Meyer, Y Alibert, TV Gerya, CA Mordasini. A water budget dichotomy of rocky protoplanets from 26Al-heating. Nature Astronomy 3, 307–313 (2019). pdf, blog 

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Lichtenberg T, T Keller, RF Katz, GJ Golabek, TV Gerya. Magma ascent in planetesimals: control by grain size. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 507, 154–165 (2019). pdf, video, blog  

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Bonati I, T Lichtenberg, DJ Bower, ML Timpe, SP Quanz. Direct imaging of molten protoplanets in nearby young stellar associations. Astronomy & Astrophysics 621, A125 (2019). pdfblog 

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Hunt AC, DL Cook, T Lichtenberg, PM Reger, M Ek, GJ Golabek, M Schönbächler. Late metal–silicate separation on the IAB parent asteroid: Constraints from combined W and Pt isotopes and thermal modelling. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 482, 490-500 (2018). pdf

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Lichtenberg T, GJ Golabek, CP Dullemond, M Schönbächler, TV Gerya, MR Meyer. Impact splash chondrule formation during planetesimal recycling. Icarus 302, 27–43 (2018). pdf, blog 

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Parker RJ, T Lichtenberg, SP Quanz. Was Planet 9 captured in the Sun's natal star-forming region? Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters 472, L75–L79 (2017). pdf

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Lichtenberg T, RJ Parker, MR Meyer. Isotopic enrichment of forming planetary systems from supernova pollution. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 462, 3979–3992 (2016). pdf, video, blog  

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Lichtenberg T, GJ Golabek, TV Gerya, MR Meyer. The effects of short-lived radionuclides and porosity on the early thermo-mechanical evolution of planetesimals. Icarus 274, 350–365 (2016). pdf, video, blog  

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Lichtenberg T & DRG Schleicher. Modeling gravitational instabilities in self-gravitating protoplanetary disks with adaptive mesh refinement techniques. Astronomy & Astrophysics 579, A32 (2015). pdf, video 

 
 
 

Reviews

Lichtenberg T, Y Miguel. Super-Earths and Earth-like Exoplanets. Treatise on Geochemistry, 3rd edition (2025). pdf

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Suer T-A, C Jackson, DS Grewal, C Dalou, T Lichtenberg. The distribution of volatile elements during rocky planet formation. Frontiers in Earth Science 11:1159412 (2023). pdf

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Lichtenberg T, LK Schaefer, M Nakajima, R Fischer. Geophysical Evolution During Rocky Planet Formation. Protostars and Planets VII, ASP Conference Series, Vol. 534, 907 (2023). pdf

 

Perspectives & White Papers

Menti F et al. (incl. TL). Database of Candidate Targets for the LIFE Mission. Research Notes of the AAS, 8, 267 (2024). pdf

 

TRAPPIST-1 JWST Community Initiative (incl. TLA roadmap for the atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets with JWST. Nature Astronomy Perspective (2024). pdf

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Meadows V et al. (incl. TLCommunity Report from the Biosignatures Standards of Evidence Workshop. Workshop Report (2022). pdf

 

Helled R et al. (incl. TLAriel Planetary Interiors White Paper. Experimental Astronomy 53, 323-356 (2022). pdf

 

Tinetti G et al. (incl. TLAriel: Enabling planetary science across light-years. ESA Ariel Definition Study Report (2021). pdf

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Quanz SP et al. (incl. TLAtmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets in the mid-infared: biosignatures, habitability & diversity. ESA Voyage 2050 White Paper (2019). pdf

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Line M et al. (incl. TLThe Importance of Thermal Emission Spectroscopy for Understanding Terrestrial Exoplanets. Astro2020: Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, BAAS, 51, 3, 271 (2019). pdf

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Lyra W et al. (incl. TLPlanet formation — The case for large efforts on the computational side. Astro2020: Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, BAAS, 51, 3, 271 (2019). pdf

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Khullar G et al. (incl. TLAstrobites as a Community-led Model for Education, Science Communication, and Accessibility in Astrophysics. Astro2020: Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, BAAS, 51, 7, 230 (2019). pdf

Instrumentation & Methods

Nicholls H, RT Pierrehumbert, T LichtenbergAGNI: A radiative-convective model for lava planet atmospheres. Journal of Open Source Software 10, 7726 (2025). pdf

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​Rauer et al. (incl. TLThe PLATO mission. Experimental Astronomy 59, 3, 26 (2025). pdf

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Glauser AM, SP Quanz, J Hansen, F Dannert, M Ireland, H Linz et al. (incl. TL). The Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): a space mission for mid-infrared nulling interferometry. Proceedings of the SPIE 13095, 130951D (2024).

Theses

Björn KoopsRock-vapour species in lava exoplanet atmospheres. B.Sc. thesis. Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (07/2024).

 

Iris BoerRedox dependency of the runaway greenhouse limit. B.Sc. thesis. Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (07/2024).

 

Jessica HelmerhorstThe under-dense region between super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. B.Sc. thesis. Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (07/2024).

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Lotte BartelsMagma oceanography of GJ 367 b. M.Sc. thesis. Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (06/2024).

 

Marijn SmorenburgVolcanic climate change on hot terrestrial exoplanets. B.Sc. thesis. Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (07/2023).

 

Lucas PrioletDistinguishing surface features on rocky exoplanets. B.Sc. thesis. Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (07/2023).

 

Lorenzo CesarioDetecting Cooling Protoplanets with Next-Generation Surveys. B.Sc. thesis. Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (07/2023).

 

Boyd van der PlaatThe prevalence of steam atmospheres on hot rocky exoplanets. B.Sc. thesis. Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (07/2023).

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Tim LichtenbergThermal Evolution of Forming Planets: Isotope Enrichment, Differentiation & Volatile Retention. Dr.sc. ETH Zurich, ETH Zurich, Switzerland (05/2018). pdf 

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Tim LichtenbergModeling gravitational instabilities in compact and massive protoplanetary disks with adaptive mesh refinement techniques. M.Sc. Physics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany (2014). pdf

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Tim LichtenbergConstraining Exoplanet Characteristics with Asteroseismology. B.Sc. Physics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany (2012). pdf

Anchor: Research Articles
Anchor: Reviews
Anchor: Perspectives & White Papers
Anchor: Instrumentation
Anchor: Theses
Forming Worlds Lab  Kapteyn Astronomical Institute  University of Groningen
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