Direct Detection of Exoplanets with Future Adaptive Optics Systems

Abstract

Directly imaging extrasolar planets will greatly complement the indirect methods of planet search. The next-generation adaptive-optics instruments will however have to be optimized for high dynamics for achieving the huge star-planet contrast at very short angular separations, down to a few Airy radii. Main limitations, once the atmosphere is stabilized by the rapid action of more than 1000 actuators, come from residual aberrations which are not easily controlled. Differential techniques must be used as well as careful calibrations of the optics. Giant planets and brown dwarfs would then be imaged, allowing soon the first characterizations of their atmospheres.