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A personal perception of a superb Conference Pathways towards habitable planets

A personal perception of a superb Conference Pathways towards habitable planets. Pierre Léna Université Paris Diderot & Observatoire de Paris Pathways towards habitable planets - Barcelona - Sept. 15-18, 2009. What is exoplanet science ?. A multi-disciplinary domain, expanding ;

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A personal perception of a superb Conference Pathways towards habitable planets

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  1. A personal perceptionof a superb ConferencePathways towards habitable planets Pierre Léna Université Paris Diderot & Observatoire de Paris Pathways towards habitable planets - Barcelona - Sept. 15-18, 2009

  2. What is exoplanet science ? • A multi-disciplinary domain, expanding ; 2. A multi-techniques domain, highly creative (coronography) • observation : ground + space ( ~ 10-20 years) ; • modelisation, theory, simulation ; • A many parameters context, changing fast • (Param ~ 1-2 years) : e.g. plate tectonics, climate & orbit, chemistry, migration…more to come…

  3. The goal and the steps to reach it Characterize a set of habitable planets (H2O liquid) = image + extended spectral analysis = nearby (10 pc) A set : Earth twins (, G) or mass distribution 1-10 M ? • Statistical occurrences ; • Designation of targets suitable for spectroscopy ; • Characterization ; • Physical and chemical conditions on solid/liquid surface and atmosphere ; • Maximum information on the system (star, age, other planets…) Darwin proposal (1993) was prophetic and played a great role

  4. Space missions 2010-2020 How to best pursue COROT, KEPLER, HST Complementarity of the choices done by national agencies is essential, with crossed (minority) participations whenever possible  • On the way : GAIA, JWST • Choices to be made (500 M€ to 1 G€) : • USA : Decadal review, NASA choices ; SIM-Lite, FKSI, TESS, THESIS, EUCLID-Microl., + ASMCS (7)… • Japan : SPICA • ESA : CV1 PLATO, CV2 SEE-COAST + … • Criteria : • Necessary step towards the final goal ? • Complementarity with ground (RV, interfero,corono…) ?

  5. Space missions 2010-2020 : fully characterizing a set of S  and  • Statistical analysis (step1), targets designation (step 2) and partial caracterization (step 3) well under way : • COROT, KEPLER, RV (visible, IR for M) ; • Continued with PLATO, TESS…(all Galaxy) ; • Keep exploring the full planet mass spectrum (global picture) ; • Keep exploring the global Galaxy picture : Microlensing, EUCLID ; • Astrometry (SIM) can identify a complete set of targets @10pc (step 2), with ground support (RV, VLTI/PRIMA) = highly recommended;

  6. Space missions 2010-2020 : fully characterizing a set of Super and  3. Transit (+ off-transit) from space is probably the best next choice for spectroscopic characterization (step 3) = pointed spectrophotometry • Broad spectral coverage (0.5-20 m or more) is necessary (ambiguities) ; • JWST may not do it sufficiently (observing time, S/N ratio ?) ; • Enough targets ; feasibility proven ; direct comparison with models ; • M-class mission(s) (500 M€ ?) to be planned (ESA, NASA) ; • Extends the VLT, ELT towards Super  masses. • Coronography and IR interferometry (imaging) progressing rapidly, on the way to become fully convincing (exozodi..) for reaching the goal ; • SPICA + A possible Probe mission to solidify the concepts ; • Double blind study ; • JWST : many lessons to be learned ;

  7. Too early to fully define an international flagship missionfor 2020-2030 ?

  8. Ground programs : higher mass, but contributing to the final goal • Radial velocities, including IR (M) : HARPS, VLT/ESPRESSO… • Instrumentation for 10-m (Keck, VLT, ..) and ELTs • coronography, exAO ; 3. Optical interferometry : • Astrometry : VLTI/PRIMA, • Nulling & Exozodi : KI, LBTI.. • Exozodi : ALLADIN (DomeC) • FITE … 4. Microlensing MOA ;

  9. ASTRONET Recommandations • High contrast and high-resolution IR interferometer in space ; • High-precision photometry (< 0.01 mag) from space+ ground robotic; • High spectral resolution, near to far IR, on ELT with AO; • Next generation of 0.1 m/s RV instruments Building-up an international community • USA : NASA+NSF, NASA ExP Exploration Program, Decadal Review, ExP Science Institute, Sagan Fellows, Exoplanet Forum..; • Japan : seems well organized (long term program, Subaru synergy) ; • Europe • ESO and ESA (EP-RAT) do not have a common policy analysis ; • ASTRONET (EU Funded review, 2008) not really Exoplanet (8 pages/126)

  10. Building-up an international communitycoherent with the goal and its importancesome suggestions • Globally. Initiating a Barcelona process may mean : • A regular Pathways Conference (3 years ?) ; • An identified place for permanent interactions : ICTP model… ? • A dedicated, long-term action for outreach (HST model) ; • Pursue the « broad » analysis : epistemological, ethical … ; • For Europe, specifically : • A permanent Committee representing the community ; • Presenting the Goal to the EU and getting support (FP8) ; • Recognized by ESA and ESO ; • A dedicated Fellowship program (name ?) • Implementing the Barcelona process in Europe ; • With China, India, Russia (Oparin) : • Contributing to the emergence of a community ; • Establishing progressive collaboration programs (TMT…) ;

  11. Special thanks to the City of Barcelona and to the organizersThank you for your patienceOpen for discussion !

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