Space-based infrared interferometry to study exoplanetary atmospheres
Journal
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Defrère, D.
•
Léger, A.
•
Absil, O.
•
Beichman, C.
•
Biller, B.
•
Danchi, W. C.
•
Ergenzinger, K.
•
Eiroa, C.
•
Ertel, S.
•
Fridlund, M.
•
Muñoz, A. García
•
Gillon, M.
•
Glasse, A.
•
Godolt, M.
•
Grenfell, J. L.
•
Kraus, S.
•
Labadie, L.
•
Lacour, S.
•
Liseau, R.
•
Martin, G.
•
Mennesson, B.
•
•
Minardi, S.
•
Quanz, S. P.
•
Rauer, H.
•
Rinehart, S.
•
Santos, N. C.
•
Selsis, F.
•
Surdej, J.
•
Tian, F.
•
Villaver, E.
•
Wheatley, P. J.
•
Wyatt, M.
Abstract
The quest for other habitable worlds and the search for life among them are major goals of modern astronomy. One way to make progress towards these goals is to obtain high-quality spectra of a large number of exoplanets over a broad range of wavelengths. While concepts currently investigated in the United States are focused on visible/NIR wavelengths, where the planets are probed in reflected light, a compelling alternative to characterize planetary atmospheres is the mid-infrared waveband (5-20 μm). Indeed, mid-infrared observations provide key information on the presence of an atmosphere, the surface conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, habitability), and the atmospheric composition in important species such as H2O, CO2, O3, CH4, and N2O. This information is essential to investigate the potential habitability of exoplanets and to make progress towards the search for life in the Universe. Obtaining high-quality mid-infrared spectra of exoplanets from the ground is however extremely challenging due to the overwhelming brightness and turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere. In this paper, we present a concept of space-based mid-infrared interferometer that can tackle this observing challenge and discuss the main technological developments required to launch such a sophisticated instrument.
Volume
46
Issue
3
Start page
543
Issn Identifier
0922-6435
Ads BibCode
2018ExA....46..543D
Rights
open.access
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
Defrère2018_Article_Space-basedInfraredInterferome.pdf
Description
[Administrators only]
Size
1009.17 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
9db91470a9e04437a075212ae8061465
Loading...
Name
Defrere.pdf
Description
preprint
Size
2.17 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
264d37559af2bee91b3500e2dc49e1a4