Key Sciences of SPICA Mission: Planetary Formation, Exoplanets, and our Solar System

¹ NAOJ, Osawa 2-21-1, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
² ASIAA, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
³ ISAS/JAXA, Yoshinodai 3-1-1, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan
⁴ Oasaka University, Machikaneyama 1-1, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
⁵ Kanagawa University, Tsuchiya 2946 Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan
⁶ Ibaraki University, Bunkyo 2-1-1, Mito, Ibaraki 310-8512, Japan
⁷ The University of Tokyo, Osawa 2-21-1, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
⁸ The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan

Abstract

SPICA will provide the best sensitivity and image quality than ever at 5–210 μm. This will revolutionize our understanding of exoplanets, protoplanetary disks, debris disks, and Solar system small bodies. This paper summarizes such key sciences with SPICA discussed so far among the Japanese SPICA Science Working Group, stressing on the planetary formation, and exoplanet detection and characterization.