UPF - Searching for Earth-mass Planets
Finding and characterising the range of conditions in which we find extra-solar planets is a rapidly expanding field that is not only fundamentally interesting for researchers but also engages intense public interest. There are very few areas of science that capture the public imagination more effectively. Research results in this young and dynamic sub-field of Astronomy & Astrophysics are frequently in the news and regularly listed among the top 10 or 100 science discoveries of the year, decade or even millennium. Indeed extra-solar planet research is the nucleus for the new science of astrobiology with its unique mixture of astronomy, atmospheric sciences, biology, chemistry and geology. Extra-solar planetary research is now and will remain one of the leading intellectual endeavours as it addresses fundamental questions concerning the origins of our cosmic environment and the origins of life.
The UKIRT Planet Finder (UPF) is a key element of understanding "Is there life elsewhere in the Universe?" by answering the question “How common are extra-solar planets, including Earth-like planets?”.
The UPF Concept has been developed from the Phase A Study of a Precision Radial Velocity Spectrometer (PVRS) for the Gemini Observatory.
Of the over 300 extra-solar planets discovered to date using a variety of techniques, the vast majority have been discovered using Doppler shift studies measuring Precision Radial Velocities (PRV). By operating in the infrared, UPF will take this technique into a realm that is not accessible using the optical PRV techniques currently in use today and extend the range and type of planets discovered.
This presentation by Hugh Jones given to the Royal Astronomical Society meeting on Exo-solar super Earths may be of interest:
UPF Presentation [PDF/4.61 MB]
UPF Presentation [PowerPoint/10.5 MB]
The following presentation gives an outline of the conceptual optical design for UPF:
UPF Optical Design [PDF/0.67 MB]
UPF Optical Design [PowerPoint/0.83 MB]
The following spreadsheet gives details of the throughput estimate:
Throughput Estimate [Excel/0.03 MB]
As the Gemini Board chose not to proceed with PRVS, we now plan to make a bid for UK funding in 2009. Delivery would be less than 3 years from receipt of approval.
A new consortium based around the University of Hertfordshire (PI) and the UK ATC is being formed but we would like to acknowledge the input of the original PRVS consortium.