>Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 12:39:07 GMT (9243kb)
>
>Title: Search for Extra-Terrestrial planets: The DARWIN mission - Target Stars > and Array Architectures
>Authors: Lisa Kaltenegger
>Comments: PhD thesis 2004, Karl Franzens Univ. Graz, 177 pages, download at:
> http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/~lkaltenegger/
>\\
> The DARWIN mission is an Infrared free flying interferometer mission based on
>the new technique of nulling interferometry. Its main objective is to detect
>and characterize other Earth-like planets, analyze the composition of their
>atmospheres and their capability to sustain life, as we know it. DARWIN is
>currently in definition phase. This PhD work that has been undertaken within
>the DARWIN team at the European Space Agency (ESA) addresses two crucial
>aspects of the mission. Firstly, a DARWIN target star list has been established
>that includes characteristics of the target star sample that will be critical
>for final mission design, such as, luminosity, distance, spectral
>classification, stellar variability, multiplicity, location and radius of the
>star. Constrains were applied as set by planet evolution theory and mission
>architecture. Secondly, a number of alternative mission architectures have been
>evaluated on the basis of interferometer response as a function of wavelength,
>achievable modulation efficiency, number of telescopes and starlight rejection
>capabilities. The study has shown that the core mission goals should be
>achievable with a lower level of complexity as compared to the current baseline
>configuration.
>\\ ( http://arXiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0504497 , 9243kb)
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