Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b95js Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-06T22:33:43.377Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Absolute Astronomical Accelerometry: A New Tool for Planetary Searching

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2017

Pierre Connes
Pierre Connes*
Affiliation:
Service d'Aéronomie du CNRS, 91371 - Verrieres le Buisson, France

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Absolute astronomical accelerometry is a new proposed technique specifically optimized to detect small radial velocity changes (i.e. accelerations) of either the Sun or a star; it is intended for the two problems of stellar seismology and the search for extrasolar planetary systems. In both cases the computed performance is such that positive results should be obtainable in a large number of cases with a moderate size telescope. Essentially the method involves two separate and simultaneous servo loops. In the first a variable path-difference Fabry-Perot interferometer is adjusted so that its bandpasses track the fluctuations of the lines in the stellar spectrum. Then a tunable laser tracks the fluctuations of the FP and one has only to measure the beat frequency from a stabilized laser. The result is absolute i.e. obtained solely in terms of frequencies and the speed of light. All instrumental or spectral characteristics drop out; no calibration is required. Furthermore the method can be demonstrated to approach closely a so far never computed photon noise limit for radial velocities.

Type
Section II. The Search for Other Planetary Systems
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 112: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Recent Developments , 1985 , pp. 91 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1985 

References

1) Connes, P. “Olbers Paradox Revisited and the Future of Intelligence” Proceedings of the SETI Tallin Conference, (1981) (in print) Google Scholar
2) Connes, P., Coll. on Eur. Space Astrometry, 157, (Ed. Barbieri, C., Padova, 1979). Also NASA Conf. Pub. 2124 (1980) Google Scholar
3) Gatewood, G. et al., 77, NASA Conf. Public. 2124, (1980)Google Scholar
4) Connes, P., 197, NASA Conf. Publ. 2124, (1980)Google Scholar
5) Fellgett, P., Opt. Acta, 2, 9 (1955)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6) Flint, G., Sky and Telescope, 402, May 1984.Google Scholar
7) Serkowski, K. et al., 175, NASA, Conf. Pub. 2124, (1980)Google Scholar
8) Poncet, J. Publ. Obs. Genève, B6 , (1978)Google Scholar
9) Connes, P., “Absolute Astronomical Accelerometry”, Astrophys. and Sp. Science, (in print) Google Scholar
10) Connes, P., Proc. of Colloquium 88 (Stellar Radial Velocities), 1984, in print.Google Scholar