CANCELED: The next leap to characterize exoplanet atmosphere in the ELTs era (Surangkhana Rukdee; Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian)

Up to date more than 4,000 known exoplanets have been detected. The characterization of their atmospheres is a natural step to learn more about their diversity especially from the atmospheres of rocky exoplanets. They can potentially host bio-signature gases, notably molecular oxygen (O2). When observed through transmission spectroscopy, it is possible that the star-planet configuration allows us to sample only low pressure layers, and therefore the absorption lines will be very narrow, and we will need extreme high resolution to fully resolve the lines. Higher resolution allows us to disentangle actual signal and telluric lines in our own atmosphere. Recent studies show that O2 is best observed from ground with upcoming Extremely Large Telescopes. The spectral resolutions of 300,000 – 400,000 are optimal to detect O2 in the atmosphere of an earth analog. However, typical high-resolution spectrographs have resolutions around 100,000. In order to increase detection capabilities, we have developed a Fabry Perot Interferometer for Oxygen Searches (FIOS), an interferometer array coupled to a high-resolution spectrograph. FIOS can achieve a spectral resolution of 500,000 at the O2A-band (760 nm). I will describe the instrument concept, a simulation of its sensitivity, and preliminary results from our lab prototype.

Horarios: Desde Noviembre 06, 2019 13:15 hasta Noviembre 06, 2019 13:45

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