Characterizing the atmosphere of Proxima b with a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer
arXiv:1807.09996
Abstract
Proxima b is our nearest potentially rocky exoplanet and represents a formidable opportunity for exoplanet science and possibly astrobiology. With an angular separation of only 35~mas (or 0.05~AU) from its host star, Proxima b is however hardly observable with current imaging telescopes and future space-based coronagraphs. One way to separate the photons of the planet from those of its host star is to use an interferometer that can easily resolve such spatial scales. In addition, its proximity to Earth and its favorable contrast ratio compared with its host M dwarf (approximately 10 at 10 microns) makes it an ideal target for a space-based nulling interferometer with relatively small apertures. In this paper, we present the motivation for observing this planet in the mid-infrared (5-20 microns) and the corresponding technological challenges. Then, we describe the concept of a space-based infrared interferometer with relatively small (1m in diameter) apertures that can measure key details of Proxima b, such as its size, temperature, climate structure, as well as the presence of important atmospheric molecules such as HO, CO, O, and CH. Finally, we illustrate the concept by showing realistic observations using synthetic spectra of Proxima b computed with coupled climate chemistry models.
10 pages, 5 figures, SPIE Proceedings
References in corpus (8)
- A terrestrial planet candidate in a temperate orbit around Proxima Centauri
- The Occurrence and Architecture of Exoplanetary Systems
- A New Family of Planets ? "Ocean Planets"
- Modelling climate diversity, tidal dynamics and the fate of volatiles on TRAPPIST-1 planets
- High Stellar FUV/NUV Ratio and Oxygen Contents in the Atmospheres of Potentially Habitable Planets
- Highlights in the Study of Exoplanet Atmospheres
- Prospects for Characterizing the Atmosphere of Proxima Centauri b
- The Mid-Infrared Instrument for the James Webb Space Telescope, V: Predicted Performance of the MIRI Coronagraphs