Exoplanet Imaging with Next Generation Observatories.

使用下一代天文台进行系外行星成像。

• 批准号: 2867691
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2867691
• 关键词: Exoplanet; Imaging; Next; Generation; Observatories.

Although the majority of exoplanets identified to date have only been indirectly detected based on some effect they have on their host star's light, we now have an increasingly large number of direct detections of extrasolar giant planets at wide orbital separations. In this PhD project, the student will undertake an observational effort potentially involving several international teams to detect and characterize extrasolar planets using coronagraphy and spectroscopy on with James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as well as transformative ground-based instruments such as GRAVITY or SPHERE at the Very Large Telescope. The newly commissioned JWST is already demonstrating that it is opening completely new areas of exoplanet characterization, by directly imaging exoplanets at totally new wavelengths, giving us insight into their atmospheric compositions and dynamics. JWST also has sensitivity that is vastly superior to ground-based observatories, allowing us to search for a totally new class of planets: analogues of our own Jupiter and Saturn at wide orbital separations. The new PhD student will use upcoming and archival coronagraphic (and possibly spectroscopic) datasets from a suite of different JWST instruments. These datasets originate from the 70-hour Early Release Science (ERS) Program and a 25-hour coronagraphic program to be carried out in Cycle 1 searching for planetary sculptors in systems with well-defined debris structures identified by ALMA, both led by Professor Hinkley. This PhD project will be primarily focussed on data processing, using advanced image processing techniques. The results of these studies will help to illuminate our understanding of the outer architectures of planetary systems, as well as possibly reveal new aspects of their atmospheres, forming a synergy with the world-leading exoplanet atmosphere modelling group at Exeter. The exact focus of this PhD project is flexible, depending on the interest of the student and the outcome of future observing proposals. The PhD student will immediately join international teams in which the supervisor is closely involved, including a large JWST ERS team of ~100 researchers across the globe focussing on exoplanet imaging and spectroscopy with JWST for which Prof. Hinkley is the Principal Investigator. There is also the strong possibility of working with the large international team committed to using the GRAVITY instrument at VLT to measure precise orbits and spectroscopy of extrasolar planets to answer fundamental questions about the composition and architectures of extrasolar systems. Such a PhD position will position the student extremely well for future studies of exoplanets with JWST, VLT, as well as the Extremely Large Telescope, with an expected first light in 2028.

尽管迄今为止，大多数已被确认的系外行星只是根据它们对宿主星星的光线的影响而被间接探测到的，但我们现在有越来越多的直接探测到的系外巨行星，它们的轨道距离很远。在这个博士项目中，学生将进行一项可能涉及多个国际团队的观测工作，使用詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜（JWST）以及变革性的地面仪器（例如重力仪或球体）使用日冕测量和光谱学来检测和表征太阳系外行星甚大望远镜。新委托的JWST已经证明，它正在开辟系外行星表征的全新领域，通过以全新的波长直接成像系外行星，让我们深入了解它们的大气成分和动力学。JWST的灵敏度也大大上级地面天文台，使我们能够搜索一个全新的行星类别：类似于我们自己的木星和土星在广泛的轨道分离。新的博士生将使用来自一套不同JWST仪器的即将到来的和存档的日冕（可能还有光谱）数据集。这些数据集来自70小时的早期释放科学（ERS）计划和25小时的日冕计划，将在第一周期进行，在阿尔马确定的具有明确碎片结构的系统中寻找行星雕塑家，两者都由欣克利教授领导。这个博士项目将主要集中在数据处理，使用先进的图像处理技术。这些研究的结果将有助于阐明我们对行星系统外部结构的理解，并可能揭示其大气的新方面，与埃克塞特世界领先的系外行星大气建模组形成协同作用。这个博士项目的确切重点是灵活的，这取决于学生的兴趣和未来观测建议的结果。博士生将立即加入主管密切参与的国际团队，包括一个由地球仪约100名研究人员组成的大型JWST ERS团队，专注于JWST的系外行星成像和光谱学，Hinkley教授是首席研究员。还有很大的可能性与大型国际团队合作，致力于使用VLT的重力仪器来测量太阳系外行星的精确轨道和光谱，以回答有关太阳系外系统的组成和结构的基本问题。这样的博士学位将使学生非常适合未来与JWST，VLT以及超大望远镜一起研究系外行星，预计将于2028年首次亮相。