[Baps] CfA SSP seminar on Direct Imaging of Exoplanets, Monday 3rd March

[Sarah Stewart-Mukhopadhyay]

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 DATE: Monday 3rd March 2008
 TIME: 12:00
 ROOM: Phillips    ***please note different venue***
 SPEAKER: Beth Biller (IfA, University of Hawaii)

 "Direct Imaging of Exoplanets: Prospects for Comparative
 Exoplanetology"

 Direct detection, and direct spectroscopy in particular, has the
 potential of ushering in the era of comparative exoplanetology --
 where we will be able to 1) fully map out the architecture of typical
 planetary systems and 2) study the physical properties of exoplanets
 in depth. Direct detection is complementary to other methods of planet
 detection such as the radial velocity or transit techniques. In
 addition, by directly detecting photons from planets, we attain
 critical information (luminosity, colors) about planets. However,
 numerous technical issues limit direct detection today to the
 brightest, youngest, most massive planets. I discuss the current crop
 of methods and surveys for direct imaging of planets including the
 Gemini Deep Planet Survey, the Simultaneous Differential Imaging
 survey at the VLT and MMT, and the NICMOS planet survey with
 HST. While no planets were found in these surveys, they set important
 constraints on the distribution of outer extrasolar planets --
 specifically, the fraction of stars with planets with semi-major axis
 from 20 to 100 AU, and mass > MJup is 20% or less. I will also discuss
 future prospects for direct detection, including the NICI science
 campaign at Gemini South, starting in fall 2007. Currently, direct
 detection is limited to the youngest, brightest objects -- I will
 discuss the technical advances necessary to directly image earthlike
 planets.
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