Potential exoplanetary system science with the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope Coronagraph Instrument
Abstract
The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) is a high-contrast imager, polarimeter, and integral field spectrograph that will enable the study of exoplanets and circumstellar disks at visible wavelengths. CGI is a technological pathfinder for future exo-Earth imaging and characterization missions, aiming to improve upon the sensitivity of current direct imaging facilities by 2-3 orders of magnitude. At the same time, CGI will be capable of new and exciting scientific discoveries in several areas. Imaging and spectroscopy of true Jupiter analogues would reveal information about the cloud properties of mature, cold, gas giant planets for the first time. Imaging observations of the nearest planetary systems could provide constraints on the masses of habitable zone planet candidates. Imaging and polarimetry of circumstellar disks at various evolutionary stages could shed light on the process of planetary system formation and evolution and could reveal signatures of unseen low-mass planets. CGI would also be the first instrument capable of directly imaging the faintest interplanetary dust structures, "exozodi," in reflected light. Such exozodi observations are important precursors for future exo-Earth imaging missions; bright exozodi can obscure exo-Earths, and so future missions must observe only the "cleanest" systems. While CGI is a technology demonstrator, NASA is committed to making CGI available as a science instrument, assuming a successful completion of its technology demonstration during the first 1.5 years of mission operations. We discuss the potential science yield of CGI, and the potential for a participating scientist program, during the initial 1.5 year technology demonstration phase and beyond.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.P51B..01B
- Keywords:
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- 6207 Comparative planetology;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTSDE: 6296 Extra-solar planets;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTSDE: 6299 General or miscellaneous;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTSDE: 5464 Remote sensing;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS