SPHERE: A 'Planet Finder' Instrument for the VLT

J. -L. Beuzit (1) , M. Feldt , K. Dohlen (2) , D. Mouillet (1) , P. Puget (1) , J. Antichi , A. Baruffolo , P. Baudoz (3) , A. Berton , A. Boccaletti (3) , M. Carbillet (4, 5) , J. Charton (1) , R. Claudi , M. Downing , P. Feautrier (1) , E. Fedrigo , T. Fusco (6) , R. Gratton , N. Hubin , M. Kasper , M. Langlois (2) , C. Moutou (2) , L. Mugnier (6) , J. Pragt , P. Rabou (1) , M. Saisse (2) , H. M. Schmid , E. Stadler (1) , M. Turrato , S. Udry , R. Waters , F. Wildi

1 IPAG - Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
2 LAM - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille
3 LESIA (UMR_8109) - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
4 LAGRANGE - Joseph Louis LAGRANGE
5 FIZEAU - Laboratoire Hippolyte Fizeau
6 ONERA

Direct detection and spectral characterisation of extrasolar planets is one of the most exciting but also one of the most challenging areas in modern astronomy. For its second-generation instrumentation on the VLT, ESO has supported two phase A studies for a so-called ‘Planet Finder' dedicated instrument. Based on the results of these two studies, a unique instrument, SPHERE, is now considered for first light in 2010, including a powerful extreme adaptive optics system (SAXO), various coronagraphs, an infrared differential imaging camera (IRDIS), an infrared integral field spectrograph (IFS) and a visible differential polarimeter (ZIMPOL).

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]

J. -L. Beuzit, M. Feldt, K. Dohlen, D. Mouillet, P. Puget, et al.. SPHERE: A 'Planet Finder' Instrument for the VLT. The Messenger, 2006, 125, pp.29. ⟨obspm-03856276⟩