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Feasibility study of an interferometric CubeSat for exoplanet science
Dandumont, Colin; Loicq, Jerôme; Defrere, Denis et al.
201911th European CubeSat Symposium
 

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Keywords :
CubeSat; Interferometry; Exoplanet; Direct Method; Small Sat
Abstract :
[en] Every week, new exoplanets are discovered mostly by the transit method (77.1% of all discoveries according to NASA). Even if this method is efficient at detecting planets, it is limited to a small fraction of the whole expected exoplanets population due to the low probability of planetary transit. Therefore, a direct method is needed to detect and characterize exoplanets around the nearest stars. In this case, the planet and the star are angularly separated and photons are distinguished. It leads to the detection of the planet. Moreover, it allows the possible characterization of the planet surface or its atmosphere. One way to detect them through direct method is to use interferometry. With at least two sub-pupils (Bracewell interferometer), coherent light from the target is recombined to form interference patterns. The angular resolution depends on the baseline (distance between the two sub-pupils) and not on the diameter of each sub-pupil. Instead of using a single large telescope (around 60 cm diameter), which does not fit into a CubeSat, one can use two small and well separated apertures (around 10 cm each) to synthesize this large telescope. Therefore, it increases drastically the resolution power of CubeSats. In order to detect an exoplanet and get the direct light coming from it, the light from the star must be mitigated. It is called nulling interferometry. Thanks to a pi phase shift induced in one arm of the interferometer, destructive interferences are produced on the line-of-sight in order to suppress the light of the star. The exoplanet, which is on constructive interferences (white fringes), is unveiled. The Centre Spatial de Liège of the University is developing a space-based interferometer with a CubeSat. Goals are twofold: observe the nearest stars and demonstrate this technology in space, which will be a premiere. It is the first step towards a future large interferometry space-based mission which has the ambition to spectrally characterize Earth-like planets. The CubeSat will demonstrate light injection to optical fibers, recombination of the two beams, control of the delay-lines and detection. CubeSats offer low-cost demonstrator capabilities with a fixed baseline and with no free-flying concept. Aside the technical challenges, the second part of our researches is focused on the detection possibilities with this type of nanosatellite. We estimate by numerical simulations the possible science return for such an instrument.
Research center :
CSL - Centre Spatial de Liège - ULiège
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Dandumont, Colin  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > CSL (Centre Spatial de Liège)
Loicq, Jerôme ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > CSL (Centre Spatial de Liège)
Defrere, Denis ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > CSL (Centre Spatial de Liège)
Other collaborator :
Di Bartolomeo, Samuel ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Master ingé. civ. aérospat., à fin.
Bichet, Arthur
Language :
English
Title :
Feasibility study of an interferometric CubeSat for exoplanet science
Alternative titles :
[fr] Etude préliminaire d'un CubeSat interférométrique dédié à l'exoplanétologie
Publication date :
11 September 2019
Event name :
11th European CubeSat Symposium
Event organizer :
Luxembourg Space Agency
Université du Luxembourg
von Karman Institute for fluid dynamics
Event place :
Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Event date :
du 11 septembre 2019 au 13 septembre 2019
Audience :
International
Name of the research project :
Study of a CubeSat nulling interferometer to detect exoplanets
Funders :
ASE - Agence Spatiale Européenne [FR]
Available on ORBi :
since 12 September 2019

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