Mid-Infrared Direct Detection of Extra-Solar Planets

¹ Department of Earth and Space Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043 Japan
² Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan
³ Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012

Abstract

SPICA has the ability to directly detect Jovian planets in terms of sensitivity, and the additional coronagraphic capability will enable us to find not only free-floating but also wide companions with planetary masses. The spacebased telescope has an advantage in finding cooler planets around relatively old stars (>100 Myr – 5 Gyr), while ground-based surveys will find hotter, younger planets. We describe the observing mode and possible targets for SPICA coronagraphic observations of extra-solar planets. Low-resolution spectroscopy for known planets with M_p >2–3M_J may be interesting, while finding new cooler, older planets is also important.