ISSN:
1572-9508
Keywords:
Circumstellar disks
;
Coronagraph
;
Space telescopes
;
Zodiacal dust disks
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract We present a concept for a space mission designed to make a mid-IR survey of potential zodiacal dust disks around nearby stars. We show that a two-aperture (0.6 m diameter), 10-m baseline, nulling interferometer located in a 1 × 4 AU, 4-yr solar orbit would allow for the survey of 400 stars in the solar neighborhood and permit a first-order determination of the disk inclination and radial dependences of density and temperature. The high dynamic range of the instrument may also be used to study additional astrophysical phenomena. Beyond its own scientific merit, such a mission would serve as a technological precursor to a larger interferometer of the type being considered for the detection of earth-like planets.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008040902533
Permalink