Modelling stellar variability

Stellar variability plays a key part in star-planet interactions and is a nuisance parameter in exoplanet characterisation. The aim of the project is to model changes in the stellar brightness due to stellar activity. We will put particular emphasis in capturing the emission from active regions with small-scale flux (`faculae') as these are much less well characterised than starspots. As faculae are not resolved, we will be using model spectra derived from radiative transfer calculations of magneto-convection. This will allow us to remove stellar-activity contamination from planet transit spectra.