Exoplanet science with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer

Sascha P. Quanz; Jens Kammerer; Denis Defrère; Olivier Absil; Adrian M. Glauser; Daniel Kitzmann

doi:10.1117/12.2312051

Exoplanet science with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer

Sascha P. Quanz^*, Jens Kammerer, Denis Defrère, Olivier Absil, Adrian M. Glauser, Daniel Kitzmann

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

One of the long-term goals of exoplanet science is the (atmospheric) characterization of a large sample (>100) of terrestrial planets to assess their potential habitability and overall diversity. Hence, it is crucial to quantitatively evaluate and compare the scientific return of various mission concepts. Here we discuss the exoplanet yield of a space-based mid-infrared (MIR) nulling interferometer. We use Monte-Carlo simulations, based on the observed planet population statistics from the Kepler mission, to quantify the number and properties of detectable exoplanets (incl. potentially habitable planets) and we compare the results to those for a large aperture optical/NIR space telescope. We investigate how changes in the underlying technical assumptions (sensitivity and spatial resolution) impact the results and discuss scientific aspects that influence the choice for the wavelength coverage and spectral resolution. Finally, we discuss the advantages of detecting exoplanets at MIR wavelengths, summarize the current status of some key technologies, and describe what is needed in terms of further technology development to pave the road for a space-based MIR nulling interferometer for exoplanet science.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI
Editors	Peter G. Tuthill, Michelle J. Creech-Eakman, Antoine Merand
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Print)	9781510619555
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312051
Publication status	Published - 2018
Event	2018 Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI - Austin, United States Duration: 11 Jun 2018 → 15 Jun 2018

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	10701
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	2018 Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI
Country/Territory	United States
City	Austin
Period	11/06/18 → 15/06/18

Access to Document

10.1117/12.2312051

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Quanz, S. P., Kammerer, J., Defrère, D., Absil, O., Glauser, A. M., & Kitzmann, D. (2018). Exoplanet science with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer. In P. G. Tuthill, M. J. Creech-Eakman, & A. Merand (Eds.), Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI Article 107011I (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 10701). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312051

@inproceedings{dd1a4cbc7f444581a9e4e25d2873e2dc,

title = "Exoplanet science with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer",

abstract = "One of the long-term goals of exoplanet science is the (atmospheric) characterization of a large sample (>100) of terrestrial planets to assess their potential habitability and overall diversity. Hence, it is crucial to quantitatively evaluate and compare the scientific return of various mission concepts. Here we discuss the exoplanet yield of a space-based mid-infrared (MIR) nulling interferometer. We use Monte-Carlo simulations, based on the observed planet population statistics from the Kepler mission, to quantify the number and properties of detectable exoplanets (incl. potentially habitable planets) and we compare the results to those for a large aperture optical/NIR space telescope. We investigate how changes in the underlying technical assumptions (sensitivity and spatial resolution) impact the results and discuss scientific aspects that influence the choice for the wavelength coverage and spectral resolution. Finally, we discuss the advantages of detecting exoplanets at MIR wavelengths, summarize the current status of some key technologies, and describe what is needed in terms of further technology development to pave the road for a space-based MIR nulling interferometer for exoplanet science.",

keywords = "exoplanets, habitability, high-spatial resolution, infrared, interferometry, space",

author = "Quanz, {Sascha P.} and Jens Kammerer and Denis Defr{\`e}re and Olivier Absil and Glauser, {Adrian M.} and Daniel Kitzmann",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 SPIE.; 2018 Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI ; Conference date: 11-06-2018 Through 15-06-2018",

year = "2018",

doi = "10.1117/12.2312051",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781510619555",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

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Quanz, SP, Kammerer, J, Defrère, D, Absil, O, Glauser, AM & Kitzmann, D 2018, Exoplanet science with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer. in PG Tuthill, MJ Creech-Eakman & A Merand (eds), Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI., 107011I, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 10701, SPIE, 2018 Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI, Austin, United States, 11/06/18. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312051

Exoplanet science with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer. / Quanz, Sascha P.; Kammerer, Jens; Defrère, Denis et al.
Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI. ed. / Peter G. Tuthill; Michelle J. Creech-Eakman; Antoine Merand. SPIE, 2018. 107011I (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 10701).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Exoplanet science with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer

AU - Quanz, Sascha P.

AU - Kammerer, Jens

AU - Defrère, Denis

AU - Absil, Olivier

AU - Glauser, Adrian M.

AU - Kitzmann, Daniel

PY - 2018

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N2 - One of the long-term goals of exoplanet science is the (atmospheric) characterization of a large sample (>100) of terrestrial planets to assess their potential habitability and overall diversity. Hence, it is crucial to quantitatively evaluate and compare the scientific return of various mission concepts. Here we discuss the exoplanet yield of a space-based mid-infrared (MIR) nulling interferometer. We use Monte-Carlo simulations, based on the observed planet population statistics from the Kepler mission, to quantify the number and properties of detectable exoplanets (incl. potentially habitable planets) and we compare the results to those for a large aperture optical/NIR space telescope. We investigate how changes in the underlying technical assumptions (sensitivity and spatial resolution) impact the results and discuss scientific aspects that influence the choice for the wavelength coverage and spectral resolution. Finally, we discuss the advantages of detecting exoplanets at MIR wavelengths, summarize the current status of some key technologies, and describe what is needed in terms of further technology development to pave the road for a space-based MIR nulling interferometer for exoplanet science.

AB - One of the long-term goals of exoplanet science is the (atmospheric) characterization of a large sample (>100) of terrestrial planets to assess their potential habitability and overall diversity. Hence, it is crucial to quantitatively evaluate and compare the scientific return of various mission concepts. Here we discuss the exoplanet yield of a space-based mid-infrared (MIR) nulling interferometer. We use Monte-Carlo simulations, based on the observed planet population statistics from the Kepler mission, to quantify the number and properties of detectable exoplanets (incl. potentially habitable planets) and we compare the results to those for a large aperture optical/NIR space telescope. We investigate how changes in the underlying technical assumptions (sensitivity and spatial resolution) impact the results and discuss scientific aspects that influence the choice for the wavelength coverage and spectral resolution. Finally, we discuss the advantages of detecting exoplanets at MIR wavelengths, summarize the current status of some key technologies, and describe what is needed in terms of further technology development to pave the road for a space-based MIR nulling interferometer for exoplanet science.

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KW - habitability

KW - high-spatial resolution

KW - infrared

KW - interferometry

KW - space

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U2 - 10.1117/12.2312051

DO - 10.1117/12.2312051

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9781510619555

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI

A2 - Tuthill, Peter G.

A2 - Creech-Eakman, Michelle J.

A2 - Merand, Antoine

PB - SPIE

T2 - 2018 Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI

Y2 - 11 June 2018 through 15 June 2018

ER -

Exoplanet science with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer

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