Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Low frequency radio search and study of exoplanet magnetospheres and star-planet plasma interactions

Project description

A new window on exoplanets with low-frequency radio signal detection

More than 5 000 exoplanets – planets beyond our solar system – have been discovered to date. Thousands of candidates require further observation for confirmation, and even more are out there waiting to be detected. The EU-funded EXORADIO project is conducting the largest ever exoplanet search programme at radio frequencies, specifically the lowest radio frequencies observable from the ground. The team have developed the main analysis tools and the theoretical framework for interpreting detected signals. Now, the project is calling these to action, not only to detect exoplanets but also to characterise them, their magnetospheres and space weather.

Objective

The project aims at expanding the planetology, exoplanets and space weather fields by obtaining the first confirmed detections and subsequent in-depth studies of radio emissions from exoplanets. Origin of the emissions can be the magnetosphere of the exoplanet or its plasma interaction with its parent star. Magnetospheres of Solar System planets are very diverse, although emerging from the same basic plasma physics laws. Better sampling the parameter space by exploring various stellar luminosities and winds properties, planetary magnetic fields, geometries of interaction, will allow us to identify fundamental processes and separate them from the specificities of each system, as was done earlier for the question of planetary formation. Although recent observations at 100-200 MHz from large modern radiotelescopes may be revealing the first star-planet plasma interactions, I show why our searches must concentrate at the lowest frequencies observable from the ground, 10 to 85 MHz, and why intense enough signal should exist at these frequencies. The world’s most sensitive instrument in this range, NenuFAR, of which I am principal investigator, is now operational, and I will use it to conduct the largest ever exoplanet search program at radio frequencies. The main analysis tools have been developed and tested on LOFAR data, and the frame for interpreting theoretically the detected signals is ready. I took a large part in all these developments. I am thus at the right place and time to get the detections that will open the new field of comparative exo-magnetospheric physics and exo-space weather, as well as open a new window to study exoplanets, their magnetic field, interior structure, rotation, inclination, the parent-star interaction, and even habitability. These revolutionary developments will usher a new era in astrophysics. While studying the northern low-frequency sky with NenuFAR, I will also prepare in a timely way our exploration of the southern sky with SKA.

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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

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.

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.

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.

ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2020-ADG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 1 962 500,00
Address
RUE MICHEL ANGE 3
75794 PARIS
France

See on map

Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Hauts-de-Seine
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 2 212 500,00

Beneficiaries (2)

My booklet 0 0