Strategy for the Detection and Study of Other Planetary Systems and Extrasolar Planetary Materials 1990-2000 (1990) / Chapter Skim
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8. Recommendations
8. Recommendations
Pages 75-82
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From page 75... ...
But in a broader sense, the depth of our understanding of solar system origin, the mechanisms that produced its regularities of composition and structure, and the degree to which these processes and conditions were unique to our system among the myriad of solar-type stars in the galaxy, have been fundamentally limited by access to only one solar system for detailed observational study. While it is clear from the discussions in Chapter 3 of this report that much theoretical work remains to be done, it Is equally clear that models of solar system origin have matured to the point where they make specific predictions about processes and configurations we would expect to observe in other stellar environments that are evolving toward our type of solar system (e.g., dissipative accretion disks, coplanar planetary orbits, and the like)
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From page 76... ...
Many fundamental and unanswered questions now can be both meaningfully defined and obse~vadonally addressed, not only concerning just the existence of other planetary systems, but also the extent to which our type of planetary configuration is either rare or unique—or, alternatively, a frequent result of natural evolution by similar processes from common initial stellar conditions. The profound scientific and intellectual significance of even partial answers to such questions is evident, and COMPLEX accordingly recommends that the NASA Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA)
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From page 77... ...
It is important to note, however, that the search programs required for detection and detailed study of extrasolar planetary materials impose important constraints on the commitment and duration of observing time, and could be severely compromised if truncated by overassignment of other scientific tasks to crucial instruments or facilities. It is also possible that additional initiatives may be warranted, based on new and currently unforeseen advances in any of several technologies, which may lead to significant breakthroughs in our ability to achieve the goals stated in Chapter 2.
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From page 78... ...
MEASUREMENT REQUIREMENTS To types of astronomical observations are specifically encouraged in this repon: searches for evolved planets, and physical studies of the precursors and products of planetary systems. lithe committee has additionally emphasized the importance of laboratory analyses of extrasolar matter preseIved in solar system matenals, and of expedients to simulate the physical and chemical processing of dust grains in astronomical environments.
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From page 79... ...
In the absence of better understanding of the relevant aspects of stellar activator, more sensitive measurements than those recommended below are thus not currently useful for planetary searches by these techniques. Therefore the committee recommends, for astrometric and radial velocity planet searches: a.
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From page 80... ...
3. For laboratory studies of dust, COMPLEX recommends continued support and anugynenz~ation of current efforts to refine laboratory techniques and instrumentahon to the point where micron to submicron e~rasolar grains preserved in primitive sold system materials can be identified, isolated, and analyzed For micron-sized grains, chemical and isotopic requirements are determination of elemental compositions for major elements, including the low atomic number elements carbon and nitrogen; measurement of elements heamer than silicon at the 100-ppm level; isotopic analyses of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, when they are major elements, to an accuracy of 1 percent; and similar or better isotopic accuracies for several heavier elements, including magnesium, silicon, and calcium.
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From page 81... ...
1b develop such knowledge requires comprehensive investigation of possible precursors and products of extrasolar planetary systems. This in turn requires a broad range of coordinated observational, laboratory, and theoretical studies as enumerated above in the Scientific Objectives and Measurement Requirements sections of this chapter.
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From page 82... ...
will be critical for meeting the scientific objectives of the recommended program in this area. COMPLEX therefore encourages the following multidisciplinary acavmes between the responsible divisions at OSSA: participation of planetary scientists in the design and building affuture observ~ones and facility instruments and in the allocation of obse~g time at erasing observational facilities; joint support for muliidiscipli~ary scientific initiatives; and joint development of instrumentanon for e.=rasolar observation.
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