Direct Imaging & Spectroscopy of Exoplanetary Systems with the JWST Early Release Science Program

Authors

• Sasha Hinkley, University of Exeter
• Aarynn L. Carter, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Shrishmoy Ray, University of Exeter
• Beth Biller, The University of Edinburgh
• Andrew Skemer, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Elodie Choquet, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille
• Maxwell A. Millar-Blanchaer, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Stephanie Sallum, University of California, Irvine
• Brittany Miles, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Niall Whiteford, American Museum of Natural History
• Polychronis Patapis, ETH Zürich
• Marshall Perrin, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Laurent Pueyo, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Karl Stapelfeldt, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Jason Wang, California Institute of Technology
• Kimberly Ward-Duong, Space Telescope Science InstituteFollow
• Julien H. Girard, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Dean Hines, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Jens Kammerer, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Jarron Leisenring, The University of Arizona
• Yifan Zhou, The University of Texas at Austin
• Michael Meyer, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Michael C. Liu, University Hawaii Institute for Astronomy
• Mickael Bonnefoy, Institut de Planétologie et d’Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG)
• Simon Petrus, Institut de Planétologie et d’Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG)
• Mariangela Bonavita, The Open University
• Gael Chauvin, Institut de Planétologie et d’Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG)
• Christine Chen, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Thayne Currie, NASA Ames Research Center
• Kielan K.W. Hoch, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Cecilia Lazzoni, University of Exeter
• Elisabeth C. Matthews, Université de Genève

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Publication Title

Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

Abstract

The direct characterization of exoplanetary systems with high contrast imaging is among the highest priorities for the broader exoplanet community. As large space missions will be necessary for detecting and characterizing exo-Earth twins, developing the techniques and technology for direct imaging of exoplanets is a driving focus for the community. For the first time, JWST will directly observe extrasolar planets at mid-infrared wavelengths beyond 5 μm, deliver detailed spectroscopy revealing much more precise chemical abundances and atmospheric conditions, and provide sensitivity to analogs of our solar system ice-giant planets at wide orbital separations, an entirely new class of exoplanet. However, in order to maximise the scientific output over the lifetime of the mission, an exquisite understanding of the instrumental performance of JWST is needed as early in the mission as possible. In this paper, we describe our 55-hour Early Release Science Program that will utilize all four JWST instruments to extend the characterisation of planetary mass companions to ∼15-20 μm as well as image a circumstellar disk in the mid-infrared with unprecedented sensitivity. Our program will also assess the performance of the observatory in the key modes expected to be commonly used for exoplanet direct imaging and spectroscopy, optimize data calibration and processing, and generate representative datasets that will enable a broad user base to effectively plan for general observing programs in future cycles.

Keywords

Coronagraphic imaging, Direct imaging, Exoplanet atmospheres, Exoplanet detection methods, Space telescopes

Volume

12180

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629919

ISSN

0277786X

Version

Version of Record

Recommended Citation

Hinkley, Sasha; Carter, Aarynn L.; Ray, Shrishmoy; Biller, Beth; Skemer, Andrew; Choquet, Elodie; Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; Sallum, Stephanie; Miles, Brittany; Whiteford, Niall; Patapis, Polychronis; Perrin, Marshall; Pueyo, Laurent; Stapelfeldt, Karl; Wang, Jason; Ward-Duong, Kimberly; Girard, Julien H.; Hines, Dean; Kammerer, Jens; Leisenring, Jarron; Zhou, Yifan; Meyer, Michael; Liu, Michael C.; Bonnefoy, Mickael; Petrus, Simon; Bonavita, Mariangela; Chauvin, Gael; Chen, Christine; Currie, Thayne; Hoch, Kielan K.W.; Lazzoni, Cecilia; and Matthews, Elisabeth C., "Direct Imaging & Spectroscopy of Exoplanetary Systems with the JWST Early Release Science Program" (2022). Astronomy: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/ast_facpubs/99