Science Goals of the Extreme Polarimeter (ExPo)

Abstract

To advance our understanding of the formation, evolution and structure of extra-solar planetary systems we are building a high- precision imaging polarimeter (ExPo). ExPo will initially be located at the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope on La Palma. We will use polarimetric techniques similar to those developed for high-precision solar polarimetry to reach a sensitivity of 10-̂5, to polarimetrically image and characterize planets and protoplanetary debris discs. I will present a review of the proposed data analysis techniques and science goals that will be achievable using the significant improvement in polarimetric imaging capabilities.

Publication
In the Spirit of Bernard Lyot: The Direct Detection of Planets and Circumstellar Disks in the 21st Century

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