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：搜索低至地球质量的寒冷行星，包括冰巨人和流氓自由浮动行星。大型望远镜上的红外摄像机和自适应光学系统将用于精确测量不同银河系环境中的冷行星。这些行星意义重大，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和行星形成理论的独特探测器。预期成果是大大提高对行星形成的理解，并改进利用引力微透镜探测冷行星的技术。该项目将极大地有利于下一个十年计划的下一代天基计划。

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.