Extrasolar Planet Science with the Antarctic Planet Interferometer.pdfVIP

Extrasolar Planet Science with the Antarctic Planet Interferometer James P. Lloyda, Ben F. Lanea, Mark R. Swainb, John W. Storeyc, Tony Travouillonc, Wesley A. Traubd and Chris K. Walkere aCalifornia Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA bJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91109 USA cSchool of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia dSmithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA eUniversity of Arizona, Steward Observatory, Tucson, AZ 85721 ABSTRACT The primary limitation to ground based astronomy is the Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere above the Antarctic plateau is fundamentally different in many regards compared to the atmosphere at temperate sites. The extreme altitude, cold and low humidity offer a uniquely transparent atmosphere at many wavelengths. Studies at the South Pole have shown additionally that the turbulence properties of the night time polar atmosphere are unlike any mid latitude sites. Despite relatively strong ground layer turbulence, the lack of high altitude turbulence combined with low wind speeds presents favorable conditions for interferometry. The unique properties of the polar atmosphere can be exploited for Extrasolar Planet studies with differential astrometry, differential phase and nulling interferometers. This paper combines the available data on the properties of the atmosphere at the South Pole and other Antarctic plateau sites for Extrasolar Planet science with interferometry. Keywords: Atmospheric Turbulence, Extrasolar Planets, Interferometry 1. INTRODUCTION The amplitude and phase corruption of electromagnetic radiation by the atmosphere sets the limits for ground based astronomical observations. The quality of astronomical observations is advanced not only by improve- ments in the instruments themselves, but by deployment at the best possible sites. Atmospheric transparency, background and seeing (indicated by the full width of the point spread function at half maximum, FWHM) ar