Abstract:

Detection and Characterization of Extrasolar Planets (or Exoplanets) is one of the most exciting developments in modern astrophysics. Most of the exoplanets have been discovered using the radial velocity technique. However, to obtain fundamental physical parameters of these planets (for example, mass and orbital inclination), we need additional measurements. Our group is involved in developing suborbital payload to directly image exoplanetary environment. The Planet Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Rocket Experiment (PICTURE) was our fist flight mission. It was launched launch in 2011. PICTURE used a nulling interferometer developed at JPL. The target for PICTURE was Epsilon Eridani (eEri b). It is a nearby (~3.2 pc) K2 V star (0.8 M_€) whose estimated age is 0.5 – 1 Gyr. A dust ring, with characteristics similar to the Kuiper belt, was discovered around this star in 1998. Unfortunately, due to a telemetry failure, it did not return any science data. However, it demonstrated that our fine pointing system achieved ~5 mas rms pointing capability. We are refurbishing the rocket payload and will refly it in Fall 2015.

Recently, we were awarded a two-flight balloon mission to continue our work with the development and demonstration of direct imaging of exoplanetary environment from suborbital platforms. Our first balloon flight is scheduled for Spring, 2017 and the second flight in 2019.

In this talk, I will outline the present status of the PICTURE program, the challenges we face and our approach. I will also describe some other experimental projects in the group.