Spring 2012 course

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Astronomical Optics course
Observing Exoplanets (2012)
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Modern Astronomical Optics

Spring 2012 topic: Observing Exoplanets

Graduate-level course to be offered in Spring 2012 semester - to be listed in LPL, Astronomy and Optics depts. The course consists of lectures + 3 team projects.

Course Description

This course provides an overview of astronomical optical systems and techniques for the observation of exoplanets. It introduces astronomical and optical concepts related to exoplanets observations. By focusing on a particularly challenging observational problem of modern astronomy, the course will teach design and analysis of ultra high precision optical systems and measurement techniques, including spectroscopy, photometry, optical metrology and interferometry.

Units

3 credits
Tues Thurs, 9:30am - 10:15am
Course offered in Spring 2012
home department : optics

Prerequisites

Available for either graduate or undergraduate credit

Multiple Listings

Joint with Optical Sciences and Astronomy departments

Lectures

Introduction to Exoplanet science

Spectroscopy: Radial Velocity

  • Fundamentals of radial velocity exoplanet measurements
  • Spectral calibration to m/s level and below
  • Spectrograph design for radial velocity measurement

Photometry: Transits and Microlensing

  • Introduction to exoplanet transits
  • What can we learn about exoplanets from transits ?: from statistical information to characterization of individual systems
  • Transit spectroscopy
  • Transit timing variations
  • Effect of photon noise, scintillation (for ground-based systems)
  • Transit Photometry from space
  • Microlensing

Astrometry

  • Astrometric signatures of exoplanets
  • Astrometry with interferometers
  • Astrometry in imaging systems

Interferometric techniques

  • Detecting dust around nearby stars with interferometers
  • Nulling on sparse apertures
  • Single aperture techniques

Direct Imaging: Coronagraphy

  • Introduction to Coronagraphic techniques
  • Exoplanet science with coronagraphic imaging
  • Coronagraphy principles
  • Coronagraph systems for ground and space

Wavefront sensing and control techniques

  • Introduction to adaptive optics
  • Wavefront quality and stability requirements for high contrast imaging
  • High precision wavefront sensing techniques
  • Wavefront control systems for high contrast imaging : space and ground

Summary of existing and future techniques, complementarity

Team Projects

There will be 3 team projects (photometry, astrometry/interferometric nulling, direct imaging/wavefront control). For each team project, several (2 to 3) teams will design an optical system (full system, telescope or instrument for a telescope) to observe exoplanets. The result of this work will be presented to the class, and a short report will be compiled. The duration of a team project, from assignment to final report due date, is approximately 3 weeks.

Grades and Exams

50% of the grade is derived from the team projects, 50% from a 45-mn long oral exam.

Textbooks

The following texbooks are suggested for reference, but not required:
  • Astronomical Optics (Shroeder)
  • Exoplanets (Seager)
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