Title :
Optical design for Terrestrial Planet Finder
Author :
Noecker, M.C. ; Kopp, G. ; Leitch, J. ; McComas, B.
Author_Institution :
Ball Aerosp. & Technol. Corp., Boulder, CO, USA
Abstract :
We describe the features of the optical system for the Terrestrial Planet Finder, a space-based, cryogenic (35 K) interferometer for direct detection of Earth-type planets around nearby stars. Interferometric nulling suppresses stellar glare by a factor of several thousand or more, and phase chopping distinguishes planet light from the symmetric background. The mid-infrared (7-20 μm) is favorable for detecting planetary emission relative to that from the star, and this spectral region also offers important molecular signatures indicative of key atmospheric gases
Keywords :
astronomical telescopes; extrasolar planets; infrared astronomy; light interferometers; optical design techniques; 35 K; 7 to 20 mum; Earth-type planets; Terrestrial Planet Finder; atmospheric gases; direct detection; interferometric nulling; mid-infrared; molecular signatures; nearby stars; optical design; optical system; phase chopping; planetary emission; space-based cryogenic interferometer; stellar glare; Cryogenics; Gas detectors; Gases; Instruments; Optical design; Optical interferometry; Planets; Solar system; Space technology; Telescopes;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 1999. Proceedings. 1999 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Snowmass at Aspen, CO
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5425-7
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.1999.792079
