Objective
Determining the frequency of life in the Universe is one of the main challenges of the next decades. It requires a large high-contrast imager in space such as LUVOIR or HabEx, able to characterize dozens of nearby earth-like planets. The detection of such planets, 10^-10 fainter than their star and lost in the bright and varying glare of the star in the images, is a formidable challenge. In the race to remove the contaminating starlight, both the coronagraphic instrument and the image processing have a key role to play. Yet, the science and technological definition of these mission concepts relies entirely on the coronagraphic instrument to reject the starlight, assuming a simple gain of 10 in sensitivity with image processing based on 15-year-old techniques developed for HST. The cost of this approach is a daunting wavefront stability requirement of 20pm rms and conservative exoplanet yield estimates.
With ESCAPE I propose to develop innovative image processing methods that make use of the specific hardware in these high-contrast imagers (their wavefront sensors and deformable mirrors) and of the data accumulated in their archives to bring a significant gain in starlight subtraction.
I will use the unique opportunity of the timely launch of the Roman Space Telescope during the ERC timeframe, which precisely includes the CGI technology demonstrator of high-contrast imaging in space, to demonstrate my methods and achieve 20x improved detection limits. In parallel I will deploy the ESCAPE methods on the public archives of the VLT-SPHERE and JWST NIRCam and MIRI coronagraphic instruments to deliver higher-grade data to the community, obtain new planetary systems discoveries, and constrain the giant planet population on scales yet-unexplored and comparable to the Solar System. These ambitious goals and timeline will pave the way for the implementation of the ESCAPE methods in the future space imaging missions and facilitate the determination of the frequency of life.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
13284 Marseille
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.