Observatoire de Paris Institut national de recherche scientifique français Univerité Pierre et Marie Curie Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7

The Future of Exoplanet Imaging : the Fast Atmospheric Self-Coherent Camera Technique

lundi 4 février 2019, par Benjamin Gerard (University of Victoria, Canada)

Jeudi 7 fĂ©vrier 2019 à 11h00 , Lieu : Salle de confĂ©rence du bâtiment 17

Direct detection and detailed characterization of exoplanets using extreme adaptive optics (ExAO) is a key science goal of future extremely large telescopes. However, quasi-static wavefront errors will limit the sensitivity of this endeavor. Additional limitations for ground-based telescopes arise from residual AO-corrected atmospheric wavefront errors, generating short-lived aberrations that will average into a halo over a long exposure, also limiting the sensitivity of exoplanet detection. We have developed the framework for a solution to both of these problems using the self-coherent camera (SCC), to be applied to ground-based telescopes, called the Fast Atmospheric SCC Technique (FAST). We will present updates of the ongoing coronagraph fabrication and testing for this method as well as future implementation, including a possible upgrade of the Gemini Planet Imager. Sensitivity improvement from this method could play an essential role in the future ground-based detection and characterization of lower mass and/or colder exoplanets.