094440

We propose to measure the X-ray irradiation of four Neptunian-desert planetsthat should have already been stripped of their atmospheres. These close-insub-Neptunes receive intense X-ray irradiation that should have fullyevaporated their atmospheres early in their evolution. Our four targets aremini-Neptune analogues of the hot Neptune LTT 9779 b which we found hassurvived in the desert due to an unusually X-ray faint host star. We willmeasure the X-ray irradiation of our four targets and determine whether theyhave survived due to unusually low X-ray irradiation like LTT 9779 b orwhether we need to reasses current models of atmospheric escape in sub-Neptunes [truncated! Please see actual data for full text]