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Visible light Terrestrial Planet Finder: planet detection and spectroscopy by nulling interferometry with a single aperture telescope

2003; SPIE; Volume: 4852; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1117/12.460925

1996-756X

B. M. Levine, Michael Shao, Charles Beichman, Bertrand Mennesson, Rhonda Morgan, Glenn S. Orton, Eugene Serabyn, S. C. Unwin, T. Velusamy, N. J. Woolf,

Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies

Planet detection around a bright star is dependent on the resolution of the imaging system and the degree of light suppression of the star relative to the planet. We present a concept and a scaled precursor for a visible light Terrestrial Planet Finding (VTPF) mission. Its major feature is an imaging system for planet detection using a nulling interferometer behind a single aperture telescope. This configuration is capable of detecting earth-like planets with a 4m aperture using both imaging and spectroscopic imaging modes. We will describe the principles of the system, and show results of studies demonstrating its feasibility.