Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Jun 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007coast.150..357r&link_type=abstract
Communications in Astroseismology, Vol. 150, p.357
Physics
Optics
4
Scientific paper
PLATO is a project for a future space mission that is intended to be submitted in response to the upcoming ESA "Cosmic Vision" announcement of opportunity. The science goal of PLATO is to provide a solid observational basis to understand the formation and evolution of stars and their planetary systems. This goal will be achieved by determining statistically the distribution of sizes and orbits of exoplanets, down to sub-earth sized planets and up to orbits at several AU, and the properties of their parent stars through asteroseismology. The observational concept of PLATO is based on ultra-high precision photometry from space. The strategy is to identify a sample of more than 100 000 bright stars, and to perform on all of them a long-term high precision monitoring in white-light visible photometry. This monitoring will be used on one hand to search for and characterize planetary transits in front of these stars, and on the other hand to detect and analyse oscillations of the same stars and thus probe their internal structure and dynamics. The requirements for such a mission are challenging: a very wide field-of-view, near 900 square degrees, as well as a large effective collecting area, of the order of 1 m^2, are necessary to monitor simultaneously a sufficiently large sample of bright stars, with a sufficient photometric precision. The duration of the monitoring must be of at least 5 years. We present an example of instrumental concept compliant with these requirements. It involves a large number of small pupil optics, each one illuminating its own large format focal plane. Although challenging, this concept builds on heritage from previous missions and previous studies, and presents a low technological risk. Detailed industrial studies of the proposed mission are currently being undertaken by Astrium and by Alcatel/Alenia, and the final form of the mission concept to be submitted to ESA will doubtless draw heavily on these studies. Due to secrecy agreements with these companies we are not permitted, at this time, to discuss the current stage of their studies.
Catala Claude
PLATO Consortium
Roxburgh Ian
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