Measuring the structure of planetary system debris disks as a probe of planet formation processes

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The Kuiper belt provides a valuable window into the processes of planet formation. We will conduct observations of the luminosity and orbital distributions of Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) to provide a detailed picture of this region of the solar system. These observational campaigns will make use the Canada France Hawaii Telescope, the GEMINI telescopes as well as supporting observations from an array of facilities. Specific projects include: - Observations to measure of the luminosity distribution of KBOs sub-classed by type. Cosmogenic models of the formation of the outer solar system indicate that various sub-classes of the Kuiper belt formed under different conditions and thus the size distributions (for which the luminosity function is a proxy) may be different. We will compare the size distributions in the range between 30 and 100km, where the accretion/collision processes should be dominant. - Developing a novel technique for detection of stellar occultations by mid-sized (~100km) KBOs, detection of which will allow a connection between observed luminosity function of KBOs and the desired size distribution. Currently, infrared observations and traditional occultation observations enable the connection between luminosity and size for the largest (+1000km) KBOs, much larger than sizes where the interplay between accretion and collision in the Kuiper belt is probed. - Discovery of a post-Pluto encounter New Horizons spacecraft target. Physical study of a single ~100km sized KBO will greatly increase our understanding of these objects. Observations of surface scaring, albedo variations, surface properties, etc. are all ground truths that can only be obtained via a spacecraft visit. Our observations will provide the secondary encounter target and, in exchange, we will participate in the full exploitation of the data obtained by the spacecraft during this encounter. This project has both a near term (finding a target in 2012) and long term (the encounter will likely occur in 2018) component.