Exoplanet Status Report: Observation, Characterization and Evolution of Exoplanets and Their Host Stars1 H

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Exoplanet Status Report: Observation, Characterization and Evolution of Exoplanets and Their Host Stars1 H ISSN 00380946, Solar System Research, 2010, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 290–310. © Pleiades Publishing, Inc., 2010. Original Russian Text © H. Lammer, A. Hanslmeier, J. Schneider, I.K. Stateva, M. Barthelemy, A. Belu, D. Bisikalo, M. Bonavita, V. Eybl, V. Coudé du Foresto, M. Fridlund, R. Dvorak, S. Eggl, J.M. Grieβmeier, M. Güdel, E. Günther, W. Hausleitner, M. Holmström, E. Kallio, M.L. Khodachenko, A.A. Konovalenko, S. Krauss, L.V. Ksanfomality, Yu.N. Kulikov, K. Kyslyakova, M. Leitzinger, R. Liseau, E. Lohinger, P. Odert, E. Palle, A. Reiners, I. Ribas, H.O. Rucker, N. Sarda, J. Seckbach, V.I. Shematovich, A. Sozzetti, A. Tavrov, M. Xiang Grüβ, 2010, published in Astronomicheskii Vestnik, 2010, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 314–335. Exoplanet Status Report: Observation, Characterization and Evolution of Exoplanets and Their Host Stars1 H. Lammer1, A. Hanslmeier2, J. Schneider3, I. K. Stateva4, M. Barthelemy5, A. Belu6, D. Bisikalo7, M. Bonavita8, V. Eybl9, V. Coudé du Foresto10, M. Fridlund11, R. Dvorak9, S. Eggl9, J.M. Grieβmeier12, M. Güdel9,13, E. Günther14, W. Hausleitner1, M. Holmström15, E. Kallio16, M. L. Khodachenko1, A. A. Konovalenko17, S. Krauss1, L. V. Ksanfomality18, Yu. N. Kulikov19, K. Kyslyakova22, M. Leitzinger2, R. Liseau21, E. Lohinger9, P. Odert2, E. Palle13, A. Reiners22, I. Ribas23, H. O. Rucker1, N. Sarda24, J. Seckbach25, V. I. Shematovich7, A. Sozzetti26, A. Tavrov16, M. XiangGrüβ27 1 Space Research Institute (IWF), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria 2 Institute for Geophysics and Meteorology (IGAM), University of Graz, Austria 3 Observatoire ParisSite de Meudon LUTH, Paris, France 4 European Science Foundation, Standing Committee for Physical and Engineering Sciences, Strasbourg, France 5 Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble CNRSUJF, Grenoble, France 6 Université de Bordeaux, France 7 Institut for Astronomy (INASAN), Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia 8 Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, INAF, Italy 9 Institute for Astronomy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 10 Observatoiré de Paris—LESIA, Paris, France 12 ASTRON, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands 13 ETH Zürich Astrophysics Institute of Astronomy, Zürich, Switzerland 14 Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Tenerife, Spain 15 The Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden 16 Finish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Helsinki, Finland 17 Institute of Radio Astronomy in Kharkov of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Ukraine 18 Space Research Institute (IKI), Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia 19 Solar Geophysical Institute (PGI), Russian Academy of Sciences, Murmansk, Russia 20 Institute for Applied Physics (IAP), Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia 21 Onsala Space Observatory Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala, Sweden 22 Universitát Göttingen, Institut für Astrophysik, Göttingen, Germany 23 Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain 24 Astrium Ltd, Stevenage, United Kingdom 25 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel 26 INAF—Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, Torino, Italy 27 Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universitát zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany Received February 18, 2010 Abstract—After the discovery of more than 400 planets beyond our Solar System, the characterization of exoplanets as well as their host stars can be considered as one of the fastest growing fields in space science during the past decade. The characterization of exoplanets can only be carried out in a well coordinated interdiscipli nary way which connects planetary science, solar/stellar physics and astrophysics. We present a status report on the characterization of exoplanets and their host stars by reviewing the relevant space and groundbased projects. One finds that the previous strategy changed from space mission concepts which were designed to search, find and characterize Earthlike rocky exoplanets to: A statistical study of planetary objects in order to get information about their abundance, an identification of potential target and finally its analysis. Spectral analysis of exoplanets is mandatory, particularly to identify biosignatures on Earthlike planets. Direct charac terization of exoplanets should be done by spectroscopy, both in the visible and in the infrared spectral range. The way leading to the direct detection and characterization of exoplanets is then paved by several questions, either concerning the prerequired science or the associated observational strategy. DOI: 10.1134/S0038094610040039 290 EXOPLANET STATUS REPORT: OBSERVATION, CHARACTERIZATION 291 Fig. 1. The workshop participants in front of the ESFworkshop location in Hotel Legenstein, in Bairisch Kölldorf, Austria. From left 3th row: Alessandro Sozzetti, Alexander Tavrov, Ignasi Ribas, Enric Palle, Rene Liseau, Nicola Sarda, Martin Leitzinger, Siegfried Eggl, Ansgar Reiners, Eike Günther, Dmitry Bisikalo, Rudolf Dvorak, Jean Schneider; From left 2th row: Leonid Ksan 5 fomality, Ivanka K. Stateva, Elke Lohinger, JeanMathias Grieömeier, Kristina Kyslyakova, Helmut Lammer, Adrian Belu, Mats Holmström, Valery I. Shematovich, Mathieu Barthelemy; From left 1th row: Mariangela Bonavita, Manuel Güdel, Joseph Seck bach, Yuri N. Kulikov, Arnold Hanslmeier. 1 INTRODUCTION potentially habitable rocky exoplanets will be discov ered during the not so distant future. The European Science Foundation (ESF) is an The workshop addressed three main aspects: association of 80 member organizations devoted to —The first objective focused on the discussion of scientific research in 30 European countries with the the present status related to exoplanet research, exist aim to advance and connect European research cen ing and future mission concepts, including space and tres and to explore new directions for research at the groundbased projects. highest scientific level. During the year 2009 the Inter —The second objective was related to the charac national Year of Astronomy was celebrated. One of the terisation of the host stars of potential terrestrial most important and interesting problems in modern exoplanets. Because it is from fundamental impor astrophysics is the discovery of exoplanets. Because tance—related to habitability and atmosphere evolu exoplanet research becomes more and more impor tion—to observe and analyze the activity, radiation tant an ESF sponsored Exploratory Workshop was and plasma environment and the ages of exoplanetary held in the village of Bairisch Kölldorf, Austria, 29th host stars various methods for obtaining observational November–1st December 2009 (see Fig. 1). The char evidence of the radiation environment, Coronal Mass acterisation of these discoveries has evolved dramati Ejections (CMEs) and stellar winds as well as the stel cally since the first detection of the first Jupitertype lar age were addressed. object more than a decade ago. Now more than 400 —The third objective was a survey of exoplanet or exoplanets are known and the near future observing host star characterisation relevant projects/research facilities become extremely powerful. After the recent carried out at present, in nonEU Eastern European discoveries of transiting small and low mass exoplanets countries especially the Russian Federation and the like CoRoT7b with 1.65REarth by the CNESled Ukraine, so that exoplanet science activities become European CoRoTspace observatory and the discov more known to researchers in these countries and new ery by the ground based MEarthproject in the USA of scientific cooperation’s can be established. the 2.68REarth size planet GJ1214b, one can expect that Besides these objectives discussions and plans to establish a coordinated effort, which bring together 1 The article is published in the original. different research groups and project leaders so that SOLAR SYSTEM RESEARCH Vol. 44 No. 4 2010 292 LAMMER et al. groundbased and spacebased observations of mission. A 3month extension of the Euclid mission exoplanets and their host stars can be coordinated in would be sufficient to undertake a unique microlens the best way, were also carried out. This status report ing survey of the Galactic Bulge, reaching detection on exoplanet projects and research summarizes the limits which would include planets similar to those in main points of the two day workshop. our solar system with masses larger than Mercury. In 2008 ESA has initiated an expert advisory team of advising the space agency on the best scientific and SPACE MISSIONS DESIGNED technological roadmap to address questions related to FOR THE DETECTION the characterization of terrestrial exoplanets up to the AND CHARACTERISATION possible detection of biomarkers on Earthlike planets OF HABITABLE EXOPLANETS and the preparation of an exoplanet roadmap in order We are in an era where the field of exoplanetology to fulfill the scientific goals of the Cosmic Vision evolves very rapidly in three aspects: new scientific 2015–2025 scientific plan with respect to exoplanets results, new scientific ideas, new technological idea and especially terrestrial bodies orbiting stars other and development. This makes the sciencepolitical than our Sun. situation evolving permanently. It is therefore difficult Shortly after the Exoplanet Roadmap Advisory to develop a definitive roadmap; here we describe the Team (EPRAT) was formed, an open Call for White situation as it is in early 2010. On the US side, the Papers for the European science community was Decadal Survey Astro2010 is currently working on US issued. During August 2008 and 2010 the EPRAT plans. The outcome is foreseen
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