"Extrasolar planet imaging with adaptive optics"

Over 300 extrasolar planets have been discovered so far, but only five have
been imaged.  Imaging is extremely difficult because the planets are ten
million times dimmer than the nearby star. Conventional coronography
fails in most situations.  Novel imaging methods, including apodization,
adaptive optics telescope pupil phase control, or optical vortex
insertion show promise in simulations.  I will explain how these work
and what is expected in the very near future.

Speaker:

Robert K. Tyson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dept. of Physics and Optical Science
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Dr. Bob Tyson is an associate professor of physics and optical science
at UNC Charlotte.  He has written six books on adaptive optics which is a
technology necessary to correct for atmospheric turbulence in astronomy.
Prior to joining UNC Charlotte in 1999, he worked in the aerospace
industry designing systems and supporting technology for strategic
defense high-energy laser weapon systems.  He has a bachelor's degree in
physics from Penn State and a Ph.D. from West Virginia University.