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Autre Publication Scientifique Année : 2019

Atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets in the mid-infrared: biosignatures, habitability & diversity

Sascha P. Quanz
  • Fonction : Auteur
Xavier Bonfils
Jean-Philippe Berger
Matteo Brogi
  • Fonction : Auteur
David Ehrenreich
  • Fonction : Auteur
  • PersonId : 830634
Steve Ertel
  • Fonction : Auteur
Scott Gaudi
  • Fonction : Auteur
Julien Girard
Markus Janson
Jens Kammerer
  • Fonction : Auteur
Daniel Kitzmann
Oliver Krause
  • Fonction : Auteur
Lucas Labadie
  • Fonction : Auteur
  • PersonId : 832356
Tim Lichtenberg
Michael Line
  • Fonction : Auteur
Hendrik Linz
  • Fonction : Auteur
Jérôme Loicq
  • Fonction : Auteur
Bertrand Mennesson
  • Fonction : Auteur
Michael R. Meyer
  • Fonction : Auteur
Yamila Miguel
John Monnier
  • Fonction : Auteur
Mamadou N'Diaye
Enric Pallé
  • Fonction : Auteur
Sarah Rugheimer
  • Fonction : Auteur
Franck Selsis
Gene Serabyn
  • Fonction : Auteur
Ignas Snellen
Alessandro Sozzetti
  • Fonction : Auteur
Karl R. Stapelfeldt
  • Fonction : Auteur
Mark Wyatt

Résumé

Exoplanet science is one of the most thriving fields of modern astrophysics. A major goal is the atmospheric characterization of dozens of small, terrestrial exoplanets in order to search for signatures in their atmospheres that indicate biological activity, assess their ability to provide conditions for life as we know it, and investigate their expected atmospheric diversity. None of the currently adopted projects or missions, from ground or in space, can address these goals. In this White Paper we argue that a large space-based mission designed to detect and investigate thermal emission spectra of terrestrial exoplanets in the MIR wavelength range provides unique scientific potential to address these goals and surpasses the capabilities of other approaches. While NASA might be focusing on large missions that aim to detect terrestrial planets in reflected light, ESA has the opportunity to take leadership and spearhead the development of a large MIR exoplanet mission within the scope of the "Voyage 2050" long-term plan establishing Europe at the forefront of exoplanet science for decades to come. Given the ambitious science goals of such a mission, additional international partners might be interested in participating and contributing to a roadmap that, in the long run, leads to a successful implementation. A new, dedicated development program funded by ESA to help reduce development and implementation cost and further push some of the required key technologies would be a first important step in this direction. Ultimately, a large MIR exoplanet imaging mission will be needed to help answer one of mankind's most fundamental questions: "How unique is our Earth?"
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Dates et versions

hal-02282394 , version 1 (10-09-2019)

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Sascha P. Quanz, Olivier Absil, Daniel Angerhausen, Willy Benz, Xavier Bonfils, et al.. Atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets in the mid-infrared: biosignatures, habitability & diversity. 2019. ⟨hal-02282394⟩
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