LUVOIR Science Definition Document: Habitable Exoplanets

LUVOIR Science Definition Document: Habitable Exoplanets

LUVOIR Science Definition Document

Table of Contents

1Are Earth-like habitable environments common or rare on worlds around other stars?

2Science Measurements

2.1Find terrestrial planets in habitable zones of nearby stars

2.2Measure frequency of water vapor in planets’ atmospheres

2.3Measure planetary orbits to determine surface energy input

2.4Measure atmospheric surface pressure

3Description of Observations

3.1Direct imaging search for small planets in habitable zones

3.2Optical/near-IR direct spectroscopy of water vapor features

3.3Multi-epoch direct imaging

3.4Near-IR direct spectroscopy of pressure-sensitive O4 feature

3.5Planet mass determination with radial velocities or astrometry

1Are Earth-like habitable environments common or rare on worlds around other stars?

Section heading is a high-level science goal / question. Imagine saying it to your congressperson. Below that,put an explanation of the goal and why we want to do it. Please use statements accessible to a general reader.

2Science Measurements

2.1Find terrestrial planets in habitable zones of nearby stars

Here, describe what measurements are needed to achieve the science goal and why. Target audience might be a scientist not in your specific field.

Explain target selection and sample size choices. Add figures if desired. Add as many science measurements as necessary.

2.2Measure frequency of water vapor in planets’ atmospheres

2.3Measure planetary orbits to determine surface energy input

2.4Measure atmospheric surface pressure

3Description of Observations

3.1Direct imaging search forsmall planets in habitable zones

Describe how we are going to achieve the science measurements. Time to get specific. Here you’re speaking to experts in your field.

Describe projects and needed observations in detail (wavelengths, contrast, spectral resolution, etc.). Provide any calculations, figures, tables,and references to other documents.

At the end of each subsection, we want to have a table of observation requirements for the project filled out, with values for three different levels of progress. Modify (or add to)table rows as needed. These will be used to define instrument capabilities, and to evaluate progress for eachprojectafter mission architecture isdesigned.

Table 1: Observation Requirements

Observation
Requirement / Major
Progress / Substantial
Progress / Incremental
Progress
Wavelengths
Spatial resolution
Spectral resolution / Not applicable / Not applicable / Not applicable
Field-of-view
Contrast
Telescope aperture
Exposure time

3.2Optical/near-IR direct spectroscopy of water vapor features

Table 2: Observation Requirements

Observation
Requirement / Major
Progress / Substantial
Progress / Incremental
Progress
Wavelengths
Spatial resolution
Spectral resolution
Field-of-view
Contrast
Telescope aperture
Exposure time

3.3Multi-epoch direct imaging

Table 3: Observation Requirements

3.4Near-IR direct spectroscopy of pressure-sensitive O4 feature

Table 4: Observation Requirements

3.5Planet mass determination with radial velocities or astrometry

Table 5: Observation Requirements

Observation
Requirement / Major
Progress / Substantial
Progress / Incremental
Progress
Wavelengths
Spatial resolution
Spectral resolution
Field-of-view
Contrast
Telescope aperture
Exposure time