TY - JOUR
T1 - Atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets in the mid-infrared
T2 - biosignatures, habitability, and diversity
AU - Quanz, Sascha P.
AU - Absil, Olivier
AU - Benz, Willy
AU - Bonfils, Xavier
AU - Berger, Jean Philippe
AU - Defrère, Denis
AU - van Dishoeck, Ewine
AU - Ehrenreich, David
AU - Fortney, Jonathan
AU - Glauser, Adrian
AU - Grenfell, John Lee
AU - Janson, Markus
AU - Kraus, Stefan
AU - Krause, Oliver
AU - Labadie, Lucas
AU - Lacour, Sylvestre
AU - Line, Michael
AU - Linz, Hendrik
AU - Loicq, Jérôme
AU - Miguel, Yamila
AU - Pallé, Enric
AU - Queloz, Didier
AU - Rauer, Heike
AU - Ribas, Ignasi
AU - Rugheimer, Sarah
AU - Selsis, Franck
AU - Snellen, Ignas
AU - Sozzetti, Alessandro
AU - Stapelfeldt, Karl R.
AU - Udry, Stephane
AU - Wyatt, Mark
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Exoplanet science is one of the most thriving fields of modern astrophysics. A major goal is the atmospheric characterization of dozens of small, terrestrial exoplanets in order to search for signatures in their atmospheres that indicate biological activity, assess their ability to provide conditions for life as we know it, and investigate their expected atmospheric diversity. None of the currently adopted projects or missions, from ground or in space, can address these goals. In this White Paper, submitted to ESA in response to the Voyage 2050 Call, we argue that a large space-based mission designed to detect and investigate thermal emission spectra of terrestrial exoplanets in the mid-infrared wavelength range provides unique scientific potential to address these goals and surpasses the capabilities of other approaches. While NASA might be focusing on large missions that aim to detect terrestrial planets in reflected light, ESA has the opportunity to take leadership and spearhead the development of a large mid-infrared exoplanet mission within the scope of the “Voyage 2050” long-term plan establishing Europe at the forefront of exoplanet science for decades to come. Given the ambitious science goals of such a mission, additional international partners might be interested in participating and contributing to a roadmap that, in the long run, leads to a successful implementation. A new, dedicated development program funded by ESA to help reduce development and implementation cost and further push some of the required key technologies would be a first important step in this direction.
AB - Exoplanet science is one of the most thriving fields of modern astrophysics. A major goal is the atmospheric characterization of dozens of small, terrestrial exoplanets in order to search for signatures in their atmospheres that indicate biological activity, assess their ability to provide conditions for life as we know it, and investigate their expected atmospheric diversity. None of the currently adopted projects or missions, from ground or in space, can address these goals. In this White Paper, submitted to ESA in response to the Voyage 2050 Call, we argue that a large space-based mission designed to detect and investigate thermal emission spectra of terrestrial exoplanets in the mid-infrared wavelength range provides unique scientific potential to address these goals and surpasses the capabilities of other approaches. While NASA might be focusing on large missions that aim to detect terrestrial planets in reflected light, ESA has the opportunity to take leadership and spearhead the development of a large mid-infrared exoplanet mission within the scope of the “Voyage 2050” long-term plan establishing Europe at the forefront of exoplanet science for decades to come. Given the ambitious science goals of such a mission, additional international partners might be interested in participating and contributing to a roadmap that, in the long run, leads to a successful implementation. A new, dedicated development program funded by ESA to help reduce development and implementation cost and further push some of the required key technologies would be a first important step in this direction.
KW - Direct imaging
KW - Extrasolar planets
KW - Habitability
KW - Mid-infrared
KW - Planetary atmospheres
KW - Space interferometry
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85114704084&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10686-021-09791-z
DO - 10.1007/s10686-021-09791-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85114704084
SN - 0922-6435
VL - 54
SP - 1197
EP - 1221
JO - Experimental Astronomy
JF - Experimental Astronomy
IS - 2-3
ER -