Objective
The main focus of this project is to search for extrasolar planets (exoplanets) with two innovative direct imaging surveys, designed to answer a specific list of open questions in our understanding of planet formation and evolution, and making use of the best facilities and observing methods available.
The SPOTS project (Search for Planets Orbiting Two Stars), initiated and led by the applicant, will survey 67 young nearby spectroscopic binary stars in search of circumbinary planets. Such targets have been actively avoided by most previous surveys, leaving vast parts of the planetary parameter space unexplored. Through SPOTS, the applicant will establish first stringent constraints on the circumbinary planet population and conduct a statistical comparison with the large body of similar studies on single stars. Since binarity is predicted to have different effects on the two competing planet formation mechanisms, the results will provide invaluable insights on a wide range of physical processes involved in planet formation and evolution.
The applicant will furthermore take a leading role in the commissioning and GTO survey of the SPHERE ZIMPOL imaging polarimeter for ESO's VLT, drawing on his years of experience in co-developing the instrument. He will employ ZIMPOL's peerless performance to search for reflected light from cold planets in the habitable zones of the most nearby stars, as well as to image the tell-tale signs of planet formation in circumstellar disks.
Both surveys offer good chances of extremely high-impact discoveries (first imaged circumbinary planet, first imaged habitable-zone planet), and provide important, lasting contributions to the field even in the case of non-detection, promoting European research excellence. The projects rely on IEF mobility to combine the applicant's and the host institute's complementary and synergistic skill sets, experiences, and resources.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
See other projects for this call
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.
Coordinator
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.