Paper: astro-ph/0512092
Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 09:50:13 GMT (523kb)

Title: Analysis of ground-based differential imager performance

Authors: A. Boccaletti, D. Mouillet, T. Fusco, P. Baudoz C. Cavarroc, J.-L.
Beuzit, C. Moutou and K. Dohlen

Journal-ref: IAUC 200 proceedings, 2005
\\
In the context of extrasolar planet direct detection, we evaluated the
performance of differential imaging with ground-based telescopes. This study
was carried out in the framework of the VLT-Planet Finder project and is
further extended to the case of Extremely Large Telescopes. Our analysis is
providing critical specifications for future instruments mostly in terms of
phase aberrations but also regarding alignments of the instrument optics or
offset pointing on the coronagraph. It is found that Planet Finder projects on
8m class telescopes can be successful at detecting Extrasolar Giant Planets
providing phase aberrations, alignments and pointing are accurately controlled.
The situation is more pessimistic for the detection of terrestrial planets with
Extremely Large Telescopes for which phase aberrations must be lowered at a
very challenging level.

\\ ( http://arXiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0512092 , 523kb)