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SIM Newsletter
" F R I N G E S "
Space Interferometry Mission Newsletter
Number 43, April 25, 2008
CONTENTS
1. SIM Science Studies - RFP released April 25, 2008
2. Exoplanet Forum 2008
3. Update on SIM multiple planets 'Data Challenge'
1. SIM Science Studies - Request for Proposals released April 25, 2008
Closing date for proposals is *June 13, 2008*
The Space Interferometer Mission (SIM) and the Michelson Science Center (MSC) are inviting proposals in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) entitled "SIM Science Studies", released on April 25. The objective of this solicitation is to enhance the science return from SIM by supporting researchers to conduct concept studies that will lead to the most scientifically productive observations using SIM.
Since SIM will offer US astronomers a fundamentally new class of astronomical observations. The most effective use of this new capability requires not only careful selection of science targets and observing strategies, but also community input as to innovative ideas that take full advantage of SIM's precision, sensitivity, and flexibility. We anticipate there will be entirely new astrophysical experiments to be devised that go well beyond the 'traditional' applications of astrometry at modest precision.
The RFP covers studies in all areas of astrophysics that are enabled by observations with SIM. The scope of awarded studies includes, but is not limited to, modeling of dynamical or physical processes to be studied with SIM, the selection of suitable targets, assessment of instrument performance, and design of observing sequences to take best advantage of SIM's flexible scheduling. However, support for ground- or space-based observations of potential targets is beyond the scope of this RFP. It is important to note that no SIM observing time is being awarded through this solicitation.
The closing date for proposals is *June 13, 2008*. Letters of intent to propose are not required. More information on the RPF can be found on the MSC website, at:
http://msc.caltech.edu/missions/SIMPQ/SIMSciStudies/index.html
Information on SIM science, instrument, and mission may be found on the Project website at: http://sim.jpl.nasa.gov/. A detailed description of SIM's science capabilities may be found in a recent paper in PASP by Unwin et al. (2008):
http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/SIM/SIM-PASP.cfm
2. Exoplanet Forum 2008
Most readers will be aware of this meeting to be held in Pasadena at the end of May. The topic is extrasolar planets, and we welcome anyone who has an interest in helping to chart the future course of this field (with space missions as the main focus). Astrometric planet detection with SIM is one of the topics to be discussed. As the premier mission 'ready to go' in the short term, it plays a pivotal role.
You can find the Third Announcement, mailed April 23, at:
http://exep.jpl.nasa.gov/exep_exf3rdAnnouncement.cfm
On the same website you can find details of the organization of the Forum. You can also find contact information there, if you have questions.
This is a working meeting, geared toward the writing of a comprehensive report. So we do not solicit contributed presentations. Instead, we ask you to join an interest group to help write a section of the report. Before the Forum, each group will solicit inputs and discuss issues in preparation for leading the discussion at the meeting. Register at the Forum website, where you can also indicate your areas of interest for this meeting. The website has information on the meeting, logistics, hotel reservations, and topic areas for your participation. Register to ensure that you will receive future updates.
We look forward to seeing many of you in Pasadena and working together on charting the future of this exciting field of exoplanet science.
For the SOC and LOC: Wes Traub, Steve Unwin, and Peter Lawson
3. Update on SIM multiple planets 'Data Challenge'
In the last Newsletter, we announced a call for "SIM Planet-Finding Astrometry Analysis Teams". The Team selection has been completed, and the studies are underway.
The purpose of these studies is to demonstrate the capabilities of SIM in the astrometric detection of planets, and focusing on planets in multiple-planet systems. The term 'Data Challenge' may be familiar to you in the context of performance simulations performed for missions such as Planck, and LISA. The term implies a considerable degree of thoroughness and rigor (including double-blind tests as an integral part of the study), and this is exactly the approach which is being conducted with SIM.
A large group of astronomers (and astrometrists) are now working on this task. They are organized into several independent teams, for (a) generation of planetary system test cases (consistent with known data on exoplanets where possible); (b) generation of realistic SIM data using these systems as input (the fidelity of the instrument performance, observing scenario etc. are set to fairly represent the likely data that SIM would produce); (c) analysis of test data to extract the embedded planetary signatures; (d) independent analysis of the results of all the other teams. Rigorous blind-testing protocols are a critical part of the study.
The first experiments are due to be completed in August 2008. Studies will likely continue for several more months, as additional planetary systems, and more sophisticated data simulation and signal extraction tools are developed. We expect a series of peer-reviewed papers to be published at the conclusion of these studies.
You can find more information on the selected teams, and the teaming structure, on the MSC website at:
http://msc.caltech.edu/missions/SIMPQ/SIMCall/index.html
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Steve Unwin, Editor stephen.unwin'at'jpl.nasa.gov
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