학술논문
Recognizing the Value of the Solar Gravitational Lens for Direct Multipixel Imaging and Spectroscopy of an Exoplanet
Document Type
Working Paper
Author
Turyshev, Slava G.; Shao, Michael; Shen, Janice; Zhou, Hanying; Toth, Viktor T.; Friedman, Louis; Alkalai, Leon; Arora, Nitin; Garber, Darren D.; Helvajian, Henry; Heinsheimer, Thomas; Janson, Siegfried W.; Johnson, Les; Males, Jared R.; Nakagawa, Roy; Redfield, Seth; Strange, Nathan; Swain, Mark R.; Van Buren, David; West, John L.; Weinstein-Weiss, Stacy
Source
Subject
Language
Abstract
The Solar Gravitational Lens (SGL) allows for major brightness amplification ($\sim 10^{11}$ at wavelength of $1~\mu$m) and extreme angular resolution ($\sim10^{-10}$ arcsec) within a narrow field of view. A meter-class telescope, with a modest coronagraph to block solar light with 1e-6 suppression placed in the focal area of the SGL, can image an exoplanet at a distance of 30 parsec with few kilometer-scale resolution on its surface. Notably, spectroscopic broadband SNR is $\sim 10^{-6}$ in two weeks of integration time, providing this instrument with incredible remote sensing capabilities. A mission capable of exploiting the remarkable optical properties of the SGL allows for direct high-resolution imaging/spectroscopy of a potentially habitable exoplanet. Such missions could allow exploration of exoplanets relying on the SGL capabilities decades, if not centuries, earlier than possible with other extant technologies.
Comment: A White Paper to the National Academy of Sciences Committee on an Exoplanet Science Strategy Call for Papers. 6 pages, 3 figures
Comment: A White Paper to the National Academy of Sciences Committee on an Exoplanet Science Strategy Call for Papers. 6 pages, 3 figures