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Title:
Direct Detection of Planets Orbiting Large Angular Diameter Stars: Sensitivity of an Internally Occulting Space-based Coronagraph
Authors:
Crepp, Justin R.; Mahadevan, Suvrath; Ge, Jian
Affiliation:
AA(Current Address: Caltech Optical Observatories/Department of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, 1216 E. California Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. ), AB(Current Address: Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA.), AC(Department of Astronomy, University of Florida, 211 Bryant Space Science Center, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA )
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 702, Issue 1, pp. 672-679 (2009). (ApJ Homepage)
Publication Date:
09/2009
Origin:
IOP
ApJ Keywords:
instrumentation: adaptive optics, instrumentation: high angular resolution, methods: numerical, planetary systems: formation, stars: evolution, stars: imaging
DOI:
10.1088/0004-637X/702/1/672
Bibliographic Code:
2009ApJ...702..672C

Abstract

High-contrast imaging observations of large angular diameter stars enable complementary science questions to be addressed compared to the baseline goals of proposed missions like the Terrestrial Planet Finder-Coronagraph, New World's Observer, and others. Such targets, however, present a practical problem in that finite stellar size results in unwanted starlight reaching the detector, which degrades contrast. In this paper, we quantify the sensitivity, in terms of contrast, of an internally occulting, space-based coronagraph as a function of stellar angular diameter, from unresolved dwarfs to the largest evolved stars. Our calculations show that an assortment of band-limited image masks can accommodate a diverse set of observations to help maximize mission scientific return. We discuss two applications based on the results: the spectro-photometric study of planets already discovered with the radial velocity technique to orbit evolved stars, which we elucidate with the example of Pollux b, and the direct detection of planets orbiting our closest neighbor, α Centauri, whose primary component is on the main sequence but subtends an appreciable angle on the sky. It is recommended that similar trade studies be performed with other promising internal, external, and hybrid occulter designs for comparison, as there is relevance to a host of interesting topics in planetary science and related fields.
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