SPHERE: A Planet Finder Instrument for the VLT

Authors
  • J.L. Beuzit
  • M. Feldt
  • K. Dohlen
  • D. Mouillet
  • P. Puget
  • J. Antichi
  • P. Baudoz
  • A. Boccaletti
  • M. Carbillet
  • J. Charton
  • R. Claudi
  • T. Fusco
  • R. Gratton
  • T. Henning
  • N. Hubin
  • F. Joos
  • M. Kasper
  • M. Langlois
  • C. Moutou
  • J. Pragt
  • P. Rabou
  • M. Saisse
  • H.M. Schmid
  • M. Turatto
  • S. Udry
  • F. Vakili
  • R. Waters
  • F. Wildi
Publication date 2007
Host editors
  • P. Kalas
Book title Proceedings of the conference In the Spirit of Bernard Lyot: The Direct Detection of Planets and Circumstellar Disks in the 21st Century
Book subtitle June 04 - 08, 2007. University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
Article number 34
Organisations
  • Faculty of Science (FNWI) - Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy (API)
Abstract
Direct detection and spectral characterization of extra-solar planets is one of the most exciting but also one of the most challenging areas in modern astronomy. For its second generation instrumentation on the VLT, ESO has supported two phase A studies for a so-called Planet Finder dedicated instrument. Based on the results of these two studies, a unique instrument, SPHERE, is now considered for first light in 2010, including a powerful extreme adaptive optics system (SAXO), various coronagraphs, an infrared differential imaging camera (IRDIS), an infrared integral field spectrograph (IFS) and a visible differential polarimeter (ZIMPOL). We will briefly summarize the science objectives, describe the proposed conceptual design and discuss the main limitations and corresponding instrumental issues of such a system. We will also derive the expected performance of the proposed instrument.
Document type Conference contribution
Note SPHERE: A Planet Finder Instrument for the VLT
Language English
Related publication SPHERE: A 'Planet Finder' Instrument for the VLT
Published at http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007lyot.confE..34B
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