Status of the Planet Formation Imager (PFI) concept

Michael J. Ireland*, John D. Monnier, Stefan Kraus, Andrea Isella, Stefano Minardi, Romain Petrov, Theo Ten Brummelaar, John Young, Gautam Vasisht, David Mozurkewich, Stephen Rinehart, Ernest A. Michael, Gerard Van Belle, Julien Woillez

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    16 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The Planet Formation Imager (PFI) project aims to image the period of planet assembly directly, resolving structures as small as a giant planet's Hill sphere. These images will be required in order to determine the key mechanisms for planet formation at the time when processes of grain growth, protoplanet assembly, magnetic fields, disk/planet dynamical interactions and complex radiative transfer all interact-making some planetary systems habitable and others inhospitable. We will present the overall vision for the PFI concept, focusing on the key technologies and requirements that are needed to achieve the science goals. Based on these key requirements, we will define a cost envelope range for the design and highlight where the largest uncertainties lie at this conceptual stage.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationOptical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V
    EditorsMichelle J. Creech-Eakman, Fabien Malbet, Peter G. Tuthill
    PublisherSPIE
    ISBN (Electronic)9781510601932
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016
    EventOptical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
    Duration: 27 Jun 20161 Jul 2016

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
    Volume9907
    ISSN (Print)0277-786X
    ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

    Conference

    ConferenceOptical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityEdinburgh
    Period27/06/161/07/16

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