Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet Research

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• Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet
  Research
• A Planet Finder Instrument for the VLT
• Jean-Luc Beuzit (PI), Markus Feldt (Co-PI),
  David Mouillet (PS), Pascal Puget (PM), Kjetil
  Dohlen (SE)
• and numerous participants from 12 European
  institutes !
• LAOG, MPIA, LAM, ONERA, LESIA, INAF, Geneva
  Observatory,
• LUAN, ASTRON, ETH-Z, UvA, ESO
• Co-Is D. Mouillet (LAOG, Grenoble), T. Henning
  (MPIA, Heidelberg), C. Moutou (LAM, Marseille),
  A. Boccaletti (LESIA, Paris), S. Udry
  (Observatoire de Genève), M. Turrato (INAF,
  Padova), H.M. Schmid (ETH, Zurich), F. Vakili
  (LUAN, Nice), R. Waters (UvA, Amsterdam)

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Science objectives

• High contrast imaging down to planetary masses
• Investigate large target sample statistics,
  variety of stellar classes, evolutionary trends
• Complete the accessible mass/period diagram
• First order characterization of the atmospheres
• (clouds, dust content, methane, water
  absorption, effective temperature, radius, dust
  polarization)
• Understand the formation of planetary systems

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Science objectives
Stars - BDs
Large Surveys
BDs - Planets
Radial Velocity
HC HAR Imaging
Transits
µ Lensing
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SPHERE main targets

• Target classes for wide exoplanet search (several
  hundreds objects)
• Young nearby stars (5-50 Myr) (detection down to
  0.5 MJ)
• Young active F-K stars (0.1 1 Gyr)
• Late type stars
• Known planetary systems (from other techniques)
• Closest stars (lt 6 pc)
• Selection of individual targets
• Known (proto)planetary disks physics, evolution,
  dynamics
• Variety of selected high contrast targets YSO
  gas environment, evolved stars, Solar System
  objects

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Operation strategy

• Survey of a few hundreds stars is desirable
• Statistical approach needed (frequency)
• More efficient use of instrument (operation,
  calibration, data reduction and handling)
• Follow-up observations for characterization
• A few hundred nights required over several years
  260 GTO nights already approved
• Additional surveys/programs to be discussed

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High Level Requirements

• Scientific requirements
• Gain up to 2 orders of magnitude in contrast
• Reach short separations 0.1 3 (1- 100AU)
• Survey a large number of targets (Vlt10)
• spectral coverage

• High contrast detection capability
• Extreme AO (turbulence correction)
• feed coronagraph with well corrected WF
• SR 90 in H-band
• Coronagraphy (removal of diffraction pattern)
• high dynamics at short separations
• Differential detection (removal of residual
  defects)
• calibration of non common path aberrations
• pupil and field stability
• smart post processing tools

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Concept overview
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Actual design
CPI
Focus 1
HWP2
De-rotator
ITTM
HWP1
PTTM
Polar Cal
Focus 2
DM
Focus 4
NIR ADC
VIS ADC
DTTS
VIS corono
Focus 3
ZIMPOL
WFS
NIR corono
DTTP
IFS
IRDIS
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Instrument modes
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Instrument modes
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Combined use and advantages of IRDIS/DBI and IFS
(i) modes and operations
Astrometric accuracy 0.5 2 mas (depending on
SNR)

• Simultaneous use of
• Y-J band with IFS
• Dual imaging in H
• Multiplex advantage for field and spectral range
• Mutual support false alarm reduction, operation,
  calibration
• Immediate companion early classification

10-6 (10-7) at 0.5
1.77
5. 10-6 (5. 10-7) at 0.5
11 x 12.5
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IRDIS / IFS performances
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ZIMPOL performance
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Project Schedule

• we started in May 2001
• December 2008 Final Design Review
• Jan.-Dec. 2009 Procurement / Manufacturing
• Oct. 2009 June 2010 Sub-systems AIT
• July 2010 February 2010 Global system AIT
• Feb.-March 2011 Preliminary Acceptance Europe
• May-Oct. 2011 Commissioning runs (3 runs)
• Early 2012 Beginning of science operation

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Other Instruments

• GPI at Gemini South
• Macintosh et al.
• HiCIAO SCExAO
• at Subaru
• Tamura et al. Guyon et al

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Summary

• Very challenging project !
• Now at manufacturing stage
• At Paranal in early 2011
• Main science outputs by 2015 for both
• Large surveys for statistical approaches, broad
  target selection
• In-depth characterization of specific systems
• Critical step before further exoplanet studies in
  the ELT era for
• Technological development
• System/calibration/operational experience
• Scientific preparation on the given available
  target sample

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Thank you !