Images of Exoplanets

Christian Marois, PhDNRC-HIA, Canada

Triumf, November 2010

400 years of innovations

From an eye piece to CCDs

The search for Exoplanets

a 2,500 years old history

500 BC 2010 AD

Our Solar systemUnique until 1995...A unique picture until 2008...

Planetary system formation

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Planetary systems formation

Niel Brandt

Solar system

The Solar SystemFrom Formation to

Now“Icy planets”

“Rocky Planets”

Ice line

A possible “violent” pass

But is it Unique?

The Exoplanet Quest

Rocky planet region

Giant planet region

Brown Dwarfs

500 BC - 2010 AD

Why direct imaging?

Fast detection and characterization (few months).

Planet photons (photometry & spectroscopy).

Nicely complement RV searches - sensitive to planets >5-10 AU (planet formation at wide separations).

Follow orbits.

Masses are derived from models.

Why did it took 400 years?

+

I see I see exoplanexoplan

ets!ets!

==?

This is This is much more much more interesting interesting

than than Jupiter or Jupiter or Venus!Venus!

A Resolution Challenge

5 AU1 pc

5”

0 stars

Diffraction limit 2cm at 1.6 microns: 16”0.1 m: 3.30”1 m: 0.33” 10 m: 0.033”

A Resolution Challenge

5 AU10 pc

0.5”

~200 stars

Diffraction limit 2cm at 1.6 microns: 16”0.1 m: 3.30”1 m: 0.33” 10 m: 0.033”

A Resolution Challenge

5 AU100 pc

0.05”

>200,000 stars

Diffraction limit 2cm at 1.6 microns: 16”0.1 m: 3.30”1 m: 0.33” 10 m: 0.033”

A Contrast Challenge

1 million years 1 billion years

Hydrogen burning

No hydrogen burning

Everest mount (10km)

Jupiter: basketball

The challenge

Earth: ant

Imperfect optics & the need for an atmosphere

In space(perfect optics)

Atmosphericturbulence

At focal plane

From blurry to sharp images

Choosing the “right” stars

Low mass stars?

Massive stars?

Radial vel. stars?

Closest stars?

Young?

Our Surveys2004-2007 Gemini North: 80 solar-type stars

Using Canadian-derived Innovations!

A new Canadian imaging technique!

Image 1 Image 2 (+ 5 minutes)

Subtraction

Only true for solar-type stars...

2007-now, new survey for stars more massive than the Sun at Gemini North, Keck 2 and VLT.

The 2nd ADI survey

Remove “late-type” bias Focus an young nearby “massive” stars IR excess Low in HR diagram

The initial discovery (March 2008)

Gemini NorthNRC

October 2007

Somewhere over the Pacific (July 2008)

Keck IINRC Canada

October 2007July-Aug. 2008

A third planet!

Keck IINRC

September 2008

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HR 8799 Characteristics

A5V star

V~6

39 pc (130 ly)

Pegasus

Voyager 1 (43 AU)18 cm diameter

Keck 2 (130 ly), 10m diameter

8 200 000 AU

Neptune

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3 years of orbital motion!

PM

July 2004

July 2004

July 2008

September 2008

Did HR 8799 planets formed in a dust/gas disk?

Solar system formation leftover vs HR 8799Spitzer IR excess, dust at ~10 AU (asteroid belt?) IRAS/ISO IR excess, dust at ~100 AU (Kuiper belt?)Spitzer dust emission at ~1000 AU (collisions+Prad?)

A NEW PLANET!CLASSIFIEDCLASSIFIED

SORRY...SORRY...

AREA 51 AREA 51

AREA 51 AREA 51

Also...

Ok - a small preview...

... but do not askany question about it...

Coming 2010 in a Journal near you...

The near future with theGemini Planet Imager

Gemini Planet ImagerGPI.berkeley.edu

When: 2011Where: Gemini SouthWho: PI’s B. Macintosh & J. GrahamHow: High-order AO with coronagraphyWhat: 0.9 – 2.4 icrons, mI < 9 mag stars,

polarimetry, R~40 spectroscopy

Keck 10s

10s with GPIKeck 20 minutes

(ADI)

Simulated HR8799 system with GPI

The TMT Telescope

3x the diameter

9x the flux

Potentially could take the first image of an Earth-like planet before any space mission

Toward the search for other Earth...

O2

H2O

CH4

NH3

Affordable?2,000 years old question - answer cost ~1B US $

(1,400$ per day of waiting or 0.14$/Earthling)

2 B$ or 150 M$ per day

or also one Avatar movie...

Life in the GalaxyDrake’s equation

N = Ns fp ne fl fi fc fL

100 billions50%

150%

20%20%

10,000 years

1000 systems & life like us?!?!

Fermi’s paradox: where are they?

Listening to/Contacting Alien

civilizationsSETI

Galaxy Colonization

The planets we find today...are the places we’ll be going tomorrow...

Are we alone?

Many stars still to look at...

100,000 ly diameter, 100B starsCurrently only survey inside ~300 ly

diameter

Gemini Observatory/Lynette Cook

Conclusions

Direct exoplanet imaging is picking-up speed!

Cool new tools coming online SOON...

Exciting new discoveries are about to be made...

Billions of stars & systems, more than enough for everyone.

Be an astronomer, and join the fun!