The Occurrence of Cold Planets in the Galaxy

该项目旨在探索系外行星探测的一个独特领域：寻找与地球质量相当的冷行星，包括冰巨星和流浪的自由漂浮行星。红外摄像机和大型望远镜上的自适应光学系统将用于对不同星系环境中的冷行星进行精确测量。这些发现意义重大，因为它们与大多数已知的系外行星完全不同，远离它们的宿主恒星，而且是行星形成理论的独特探测器。预期的结果是大大提高了对行星形成的理解，并改进了用引力微透镜探测冷行星的技术。该项目将极大地有利于未来十年计划的下一代天基项目。

The project aims to explore a unique niche in exoplanet detection: searches for cold planets down to Earth mass, including ice giants and rogue free-floating planets. Infrared cameras and adaptive optics on large telescopes will be used to make accurate measurements of cold planets in diverse galactic environments. These are significant because they are completely different from most known exoplanets, being far from their host stars and unique probes of planet formation theory. Expected outcomes are a greatly improved understanding of planet formation, and improved techniques for cold planet detection with gravitational microlensing. The project will strongly benefit the next generation space-based programs planned for the next decade.