Detecting Exoplanets with Coronagraphic Images Corrected by Adaptive Optics

Details Detecting Exoplanets with Coronagraphic Images Corrected by Adaptive Optics Detecting Exoplanets with Coronagraphic Images Corrected by Adaptive Optics

Mar 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008aas...21116008f&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #211, #160.08

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Instruments consisting of a coronagraph and a multi-spectral imager are being constructed to look for exoplanets. In order for these to work, an AO system is required to produce a high Strehl ratio PSF. Unfortunately, AO systems do not correct the wavefront completely - some aberrations leak through the coronagraph and allow residual speckles to contaminate the image. The multi-spectral imager, used to obtain simultaneous images over a range of wavelengths, helps to distinguish between speckles caused by small residual wavefront aberrations. We investigate two algorithms that might allow one to look beyond the speckles. The algorithms take advantage of the dependence of speckles on wavelength and the fact that the spectrum of an exoplanet is not likely to be similar to that of its parent star. One algorithm uses the fact that the most likely speckle amplitude is zero and looks for exoplanets where the speckle amplitude is low. The second algorithm uses that fact that for wide bandwidth signals, speckles tend to washout and an exoplanet might be seen on top of the speckles. Possible exoplanets, found by these algorithms, have their spectra compared to that of the central star for confirmation. We insert a hypothetical planet into computer generated data cubes as might be produced by a coronagraph/multi-spectral imager and a high order AO system, and test the algorithms against the result. We find that both algorithms work well and together form a powerful tool for analyzing this type of data.

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