Exo-Planet Detection Using an Apodized Square Aperture and Dark Speckle

Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

AST-0123444 Nisenson, Peter This effort is to design, build, integrate and test a camera system to detect and characterize extra-solar planetary systems using a unique square aperture and dark speckle in the field. Direct imaging is extremely difficult because of the large dynamic range required to separate out the scattered light from the parent star and the weak reflected light from a planetary object. The camera system will be used with the 900+ element adaptive optics system at the US Air Force Advanced Electro-Optical System telescope at Haleakela Hawaii for astronomical research. ***