Optimizing Coronagraphic Surveys for the detection of Habitable-Zone Extrasolar Planets

Details Optimizing Coronagraphic Surveys for the detection of Habitable-Zone Extrasolar Planets Optimizing Coronagraphic Surveys for the detection of Habitable-Zone Extrasolar Planets

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21360109k&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #601.09

Mathematics

Logic

Scientific paper

The direct detection of an extrasolar planet in the habitable zone around a nearby star would be a historic achievement for astronomers. It would pave the way for astrobiologists to begin looking for biosignatures in the spectra of potentially habitable planets. Using analytical scalings for coronagraphic searches for extrasolar planets we study the prospects for detecting Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of nearby main-sequence stars. We make analytical and numerical calculations meant to describe possible outcomes of blind and ranked coronagraphic surveys (e.g. TPF-C and TOPS). We compare these results with other potential planet detection experiments which similarly focus on stars in the solar-neighborhood, albeit using indirect detection techniques (e.g. Astrometry and Radial Velocity). We find that parameters related to coronagraph design such as telescope diameter, inner working angle and observing wavelength can limit our ability to resolve planets in the habitable zone for many nearby sun-like stars (FGK). This study takes into account astrobiological goals for exo-planet surveys, and some of the results could prove useful for planning observing strategies for future missions.

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