exoplanets; instrumentation; adaptive optics; coronagraphy; data analysis
Abstract :
[en] The mid-infrared (IR) regime is well suited to directly detect the thermal signatures of exoplanets in our solar neighborhood. The NEAR experiment: demonstration of high-contrast imaging (HCI) capability at ten microns, can reach sub-mJy detection sensitivity in a few hours of observation time, which is sufficient to detect a few Jupiter mass planets in nearby systems. One of the big limitations for HCI in the mid-IR is thermal sky-background. In this work, we show that precipitate water vapor (PWV) is the principal contributor to thermal sky background and science PSF quality. In the presence of high PWV, the HCI performance is significantly degraded in the background limited regime.
Research center :
STAR - Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research - ULiège
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Pathak, Prashant ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Planetary & Stellar systems Imaging Laboratory
Kasper, Markus; European Southern Observatory, Germany
Absil, Olivier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Orban De Xivry, Gilles ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Unités de recherche interfacultaires > Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR)
Käufl, Ulli; European Southern Observatory, Germany
Jakob, Gerd; European Southern Observatory, Germany
Siebenmorgen, Ralf; European Southern Observatory, Germany
Leveratto, Serban; European Southern Observatory, Germany
Pantin, Eric; CEA Saclay, Service d'Astrophysique
Language :
English
Title :
Lessons learned from the NEAR experiment and prospects for the upcoming mid-IR HCI instruments
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