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The quest for ringed extrasolar planets: a feasibility study

The quest for ringed extrasolar planets: a feasibility study. P-ELT (‘P’ = unknown e.g. ‘potential’,’possible’, ‘planet’). P.I: R. Kotak Co-Is/Team: The usual suspects Total time: 50hrs. Scientific rationale:. All 4 solar-system gas giants have rings

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The quest for ringed extrasolar planets: a feasibility study

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  1. The quest for ringed extrasolar planets:a feasibility study P-ELT (‘P’ = unknown e.g. ‘potential’,’possible’, ‘planet’) P.I: R. Kotak Co-Is/Team: The usual suspects Total time: 50hrs

  2. Scientific rationale: • All 4 solar-system gas giants have rings • All extrasolar planets known to date are gas giants Move from simply discovering planets to characterising their properties and environments • What is the frequency of planets with rings? • What is the role of rings in the formation of planets? Plan: Compare radius of planet (Rp) in reflected light with radius from thermal-IR at 2 epochs Fp/F*  (Rp/a)^2 x  (N.B. ring increases Fp)! FpIR  (Rp)^2(Tp)^4 (Rp)th< (Rp)refl => ring (if planet in thermal equilibrium and cold ring) Arnold & Schneider (2004)

  3. Immediate objectives: • Estimate Rp • Variations with epoch? • Even if signature of ring is not observed: • 2 epochs will constrain orbital parameters (e, i, …) (+ may be able to see seasonal variations) • 2 filters will constrain albedo • If successful, multiple follow-up projects: • e.g. survey star-forming regions f(age) to determine incidence of ringed planets. • Ascertain telescope performance; not difficult to think of more demanding extensions to project: ring composition, geometry… L. Cook; 55 Cnc

  4. Feasibility: • Judicious choice of epochs and targets: gas giants (young stars) from RV surveys: • a ~ 0.5 -- 5 AU at ‹ 50pc • A 100Myr 5MJup at 50pc ~ 20Jy at 5m • Need XAO + Coronograph + 30-60m • v2.3WG-ELT-ETC: ≤ 1 night/target 2 bands (S/N in J ~ 5 in few hrs for 30m; contrast ~10^-8) incl. generous overheads for faintest target. Total time for feasibility study (5 targets, 2 epochs) ~50hrs • ‘Cheaper’ than Kepler/COROT: does not require “manic monitoring”; also, only ~10% transiting

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