Astrophysics, abstract
astro-ph/0606340

From: Jean-Francois Sauvage [view email]

Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 11:38:20 GMT (170kb)

Post processing of differential images for direct extrasolar planet detection from the ground

Authors: J.-F. Sauvage, L. Mugnier, T. Fusco, G. Rousset

Comments: 12 pages, 6 figures, This paper will be published in the proceedings of the conference Advances in Adaptive Optics (SPIE 6272), part of SPIE's Astronomical Telescopes & Instrumentation, 24-31 May 2006, Orlando, FL

The direct imaging from the ground of extrasolar planets has become today a major astronomical and biological focus. This kind of imaging requires simultaneously the use of a dedicated high performance Adaptive Optics [AO] system and a differential imaging camera in order to cancel out the flux coming from the star. In addition, the use of sophisticated post-processing techniques is mandatory to achieve the ultimate detection performance required. In the framework of the SPHERE project, we present here the development of a new technique, based on Maximum A Posteriori [MAP] approach, able to estimate parameters of a faint companion in the vicinity of a bright star, using the multi-wavelength images, the AO closed-loop data as well as some knowledge on non-common path and differential aberrations. Simulation results show a 10^-5 detectivity at 5sigma for angular separation around 15lambda/D with only two images.

http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0606340