Paper 14145-75
Paper 14145-75
Habitable Worlds Observatory: toward 10^10 contrast exoplanet detection/biomarker identification using a multi-band imaging Fourier transform spectrograph
9 July 2026 • 14:00 - 14:20 CEST | Room B4-M3
Abstract
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) aims to directly detect nearby earth-like exoplanets and search their atmospheres for biomarkers, requiring starlight suppression at 10^10 contrast over ~20% bandpasses—a major technical challenge. Even with an ultra-stable 6–8 m telescope, advanced coronagraphs, and extreme wavefront control, raw contrast alone is unlikely to meet these requirements for long-duration integrations. HWO will therefore depend on continuous focal-plane wavefront sensing to maintain a deep dark hole and post-processing while minimizing detector noise impacts.
I will present a Canadian imager concept optimized for sensitivity and biomarker characterization, compatible with current space-qualified visible detectors and emerging detector technologies. The instrument supports high-SNR focal-plane wavefront sensing/control and is designed to enhance final contrast with post-processing methods.
Presenter
NRC-Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics (Canada)
NRC astronomer Dr. Christian Marois has revolutionized how we view the universe by pioneering direct imaging of exoplanets. He invented the most powerful high-contrast techniques, and he led a team of astronomers to make the ground-breaking discovery of the first images of planets orbiting a star other than the Sun, the HR8799 planetary system. Dr. Marois is the founder of Canada’s only high-contrast imaging laboratory, NEW EARTH. He is involved in international collaborations, including the Gemini Planet Imager instrument team, and is working toward developing frontier technologies, focussing on the discovery of Earth-like exoplanets and the search for life outside our Solar system. He is currently leading the development of three projects, SPIDERS, a pathfinder for the Subaru telescope, CAL2, a facility-class sensor for the Gemini Planet Imager, and STARLITE, a system for imaging Earth-like exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars using ground-based telescopes.