Detecting the polarization signatures of extra-solar planets

摘要

Direct detection of the light scattered from extra-solar planets is important in establishing the planet's mass, radius, albedo and nature of the particles in the planetary atmosphere. We describe, and present results from, a new optical polarimeter (PlanetPol) designed to reach fractional polarizations of 10-6 or better from ground-based telescopes, necessary to detect the polarization signature of unresolved hot-Jupiters.