ALADDIN: An Antarctic-based Nulling Interferometer for Exozodi Characterization
Abstract
ALADDIN is an infrared (L-band) nulling interferometer optimized for the study of exozodiacal dust. Although relatively modest in size (two 1-meter class telescopes on a maximum baseline of 32 m), it takes advantage of the privileged atmospheric conditions on the Antarctic plateau to achieve a sensitivity better than what can be obtained with a pair of 8 m class telescopes on a temperate site. Beyond its main mission, the science potential of ALADDIN extends to the study of all kinds of faint circumstellar material (dust and/or molecules) around young, old, or main sequence stars.
- Publication:
-
Pathways Towards Habitable Planets
- Pub Date:
- October 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010ASPC..430..418C