SPHERE+: Imaging young Jupiters down to the snowline
Abstract
SPHERE (Beuzit et al,. 2019) has now been in operation at the VLT for more than 5 years, demonstrating a high level of performance. SPHERE has produced outstanding results using a variety of operating modes, primarily in the field of direct imaging of exoplanetary systems, focusing on exoplanets as point sources and circumstellar disks as extended objects. The achievements obtained thus far with SPHERE (~200 refereed publications) in different areas (exoplanets, disks, solar system, stellar physics...) have motivated a large consortium to propose an even more ambitious set of science cases, and its corresponding technical implementation in the form of an upgrade. The SPHERE+ project capitalizes on the expertise and lessons learned from SPHERE to push high contrast imaging performance to its limits on the VLT 8m-telescope. The scientific program of SPHERE+ described in this document will open a new and compelling scientific window for the upcoming decade in strong synergy with ground-based facilities (VLT/I, ELT, ALMA, and SKA) and space missions (Gaia, JWST, PLATO and WFIRST). While SPHERE has sampled the outer parts of planetary systems beyond a few tens of AU, SPHERE+ will dig into the inner regions around stars to reveal and characterize by mean of spectroscopy the giant planet population down to the snow line. Building on SPHERE's scientific heritage and resounding success, SPHERE+ will be a dedicated survey instrument which will strengthen the leadership of ESO and the European community in the very competitive field of direct imaging of exoplanetary systems. With enhanced capabilities, it will enable an even broader diversity of science cases including the study of the solar system, the birth and death of stars and the exploration of the inner regions of active galactic nuclei.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2003.05714,
title = {SPHERE+: Imaging young Jupiters down to the snowline},
author = {A. Boccaletti and G. Chauvin and D. Mouillet and O. Absil and F. Allard and S. Antoniucci and J. -C. Augereau and P. Barge and A. Baruffolo and J. -L. Baudino and P. Baudoz and M. Beaulieu and M. Benisty and J. -L. Beuzit and A. Bianco and B. Biller and B. Bonavita and M. Bonnefoy and S. Bos and J. -C. Bouret and W. Brandner and N. Buchschache and B. Carry and F. Cantalloube and E. Cascone and A. Carlotti and B. Charnay and A. Chiavassa and E. Choquet and Y. Clenet and A. Crida and J. De Boer and V. De Caprio and S. Desidera and J. -M. Desert and J. -B. Delisle and P. Delorme and K. Dohlen and D. Doelman and C. Dominik and V. D Orazi and C. Dougados and S. Doute and D. Fedele and M. Feldt and F. Ferreira and C. Fontanive and T. Fusco and R. Galicher and A. Garufi and E. Gendron and A. Ghedina and C. Ginski and J. -F. Gonzalez and D. Gratadour and R. Gratton and T. Guillot and S. Haffert and J. Hagelberg and T. Henning and E. Huby and M. Janson and I. Kamp and C. Keller and M. Kenworthy and P. Kervella and Q. Kral and J. Kuhn and E. Lagadec and G. Laibe and M. Langlois and A. -M. Lagrange and R. Launhardt and L. Leboulleux and H. Le Coroller and G. Li Causi and M. Loupias and A. L. Maire and G. Marleau and F. Martinache and P. Martinez and D. Mary and M. Mattioli and J. Mazoyer and H. Meheut and F. Menard and D. Mesa and N. Meunier and Y. Miguel and J. Milli and M. Min and P. Molliere and C. Mordasini and G. Moretto and L. Mugnier and G. Muro Arena and N. Nardetto and M. N Diaye and N. Nesvadba and F. Pedichini and P. Pinilla and E. Por and A. Potier and S. Quanz and J. Rameau and R. Roelfsema and D. Rouan and E. Rigliaco and B. Salasnich and M. Samland and J. -F. Sauvage and H. -M. Schmid and D. Segransan and I. Snellen and F. Snik and F. Soulez and E. Stadler and D. Stam and M. Tallon and P. Thebault and E. Thiebaut and C. Tschudi and S. Udry and R. van Holstein and P. Vernazza and F. Vidal and A. Vigan and R. Waters and F. Wildi and M. Willson and A. Zanutta and A. Zavagno and A. Zurlo},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2003.05714},
year = {2020}
}
Comments
White paper submitted to ESO on Feb. 20th, 2020