First-Light Debris Disk Science with the Gemini Planet Imager

使用双子座行星成像仪进行第一光碎片盘科学

• 批准号: 1413718
• 负责人: Michael Fitzgerald
• 金额: $ 30.03万
• 依托单位: University of California-Los Angeles
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1413718&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: First; Light; Debris; Disk; Science

This work will provide maps of nearby planetary systems in unprecedented detail using the new Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) with the Gemini Observatory. Planetary systems around other stars are associated with tenuous structures composed of dust known as debris disks, the counterpart of our solar system's asteroid and Kuiper belts. The observations will be used to test models of planet formation and evolution, and the data reduction pipeline will be made available to the astronomical community. The PI and his team will train and mentor graduate and undergraduate students in research, and develop an exoplanetary system imaging exhibit at UCLA's Exploring Your Universe public outreach event.The GPI instrument is a new coronagraphic integral field unit commissioned at the Gemini Observatory. It is capable of detecting and spectroscopically characterizing young Jovian planets reaching 10 million times fainter than their parent star at separations as close as 0.2 arcseconds. This project scientifically exploits new, high-contrast, polarimetric images of debris disks to be obtained in the early science operations of GPI. Debris disks imaged with unprecedented contrast and inner working angles will reveal distinct signs of interaction with planets, such as eccentricity of the dust belt, surface density asymmetries, and gaps. Coupling analytical and numerical models of the dynamical evolution of dust grains with radiative transfer calculations will enable detailed scattered-light modeling of each disk with the goal of producing a physically grounded model that gives strong constraints on the mass and orbital parameters of the related planet(s). The results of this project will be used to produce independent estimates of the planet properties from those derived from the dedicated, multi-year, planet-searching campaign, and provide a unique viewpoint on the dynamical history of each system.

这项工作将使用双子座天文台的新双子座行星成像仪(GPI)以前所未有的细节提供附近行星系统的地图。其他恒星周围的行星系统与由称为碎片盘的尘埃组成的脆弱结构有关，碎片盘相当于我们太阳系的小行星和柯伊伯带。这些观测将用于测试行星形成和演化的模型，数据简化管道将向天文学社区提供。PI和他的团队将在研究方面培训和指导研究生和本科生，并在加州大学洛杉矶分校的探索您的宇宙公共推广活动中开发一个系外行星系统成像展览。GPI仪器是双子座天文台委托使用的一个新的日冕综合外业单位。它能够探测到年轻的木星行星，并对其光谱特征进行表征，这些行星的亮度比它们的母星暗1000万倍，间隔接近0.2角秒。该项目科学地利用了在GPI早期科学活动中获得的新的、高对比度的偏振碎片盘图像。碎片盘以前所未有的对比度和内部工作角度成像，将显示出与行星相互作用的明显迹象，如尘埃带的偏心、表面密度不对称和缝隙。将尘埃颗粒动态演变的分析和数值模型与辐射传输计算结合起来，将能够对每个圆盘进行详细的散射光建模，目的是产生一个物理上有基础的模型，对相关行星的质量和轨道参数给予强有力的约束(S)。该项目的结果将用于根据专门的、多年的行星搜索运动得出的对行星性质的独立估计，并对每个系统的动力学历史提供独特的观点。