Roman’s Giants: Modeling Jovian Exoplanets for RCI Detectability
Science reports a proposal led by Tyler Robinson of the University of Arizona, PI, to support the Roman Coronagraph Instrument (RCI) aboard NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope as a technology demonstration for high-contrast imaging. The proposal calls for a novel grid of giant exoplanet atmospheric models, spectral simulations, and inverse studies, guided by likely RCI targets and anticipated planetary properties, to enable target selection, prioritization, and future interpretation of RCI results.
Inverse studies will use the planned spectral models to demonstrate the range of exoplanet atmospheric science achievable with varying levels of RCI observing time. The team anticipates active engagement with the broader CPP Team to improve star/exoplanet/disk/instrument scene models and to clarify links between planned instrument performance and the likelihood of meeting the RCI Threshold Technical Requirement.
United States, Arizona