Diversity among other worlds: characterization of exoplanets by direct detection
Abstract
The physical characterization of exoplanets will require to take spectra at several orbital positions. For that purpose, a direct imaging capability is necessary. Direct imaging requires an efficient stellar suppression mechanism, associated with an ultrasmooth telescope. We show that before future large space missions (interferometer, 4-8 m class coronograph, external occulter or Fresnel imager), direct imaging of giant planets and close-by super-Earth are at the cross-road of a high scientific interest and a reasonable feasibility. The scientific interest lies in the fact that super-Earths share common geophysical attributes with Earths. They already begin to be detected by radial velocity (RV) and, together with giant planets, they have a larger area than Earths, making them detectable with a 1.5-2 m class telescope in reflected light. We propose such a (space) telescope be a first step before large direct imaging missions.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.0811.2496,
title = {Diversity among other worlds: characterization of exoplanets by direct detection},
author = {J. Schneider and A. Boccaletti and A. Aylward and P. Baudoz and J. -L. Beuzit and R. Brown and J. Cho and K. Dohlen and M. Ferrari and R. Galicher and O. Grasset and L. Grenfell and J. -M. Griessmeier and O. Guyon and J. Hough and M. Kasper and Ch. Keller and A. Longmore and B. Lopez and E. Martin and D. Mawet and F. Menard and B. Merin and E. Palle and G. Perrin and D. Pinfield and E. Sein and P. Shore and Ch. Sotin and A. Sozzetti and D. Stam and J. Surdej and F. Tamburini and G. Tinetti and S. Udry and C. Verinaud and D. Walker},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0811.2496},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
Update of a White Paper submitted to the ESA ExoPlanet Roadmap Advisory Team