Project acronym CYRE
Project Cytokine Receptor Signaling Revisited: Implementing novel concepts for cytokine-based therapies
Researcher (PI) Jan Tavernier
Host Institution (HI) VIB
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS1, ERC-2013-ADG
Summary "Cytokine receptor signaling is an essential part of the intercellular communication networks that govern key physiological processes in the body. Cytokine dysfunction is associated with numerous pathologies including autoimmune disorders and cancer, and both cytokines and cytokine antagonists have found their way into the clinic. Yet, there are still many unfulfilled promises and opportunities. In this project we will reinvestigate key aspects of cytokine receptor activation and signaling using novel insights and techniques recently developed in our laboratory. This will include the AcTakine concept for cell-specific targeting of cytokine activity, and applications of our MAPPIT, KISS and Virotrap toolboxes to systematically map protein interactions involved in cytokine signaling. We expect to obtain important new insights, both in fundamental and in applied medical sciences."
Summary
"Cytokine receptor signaling is an essential part of the intercellular communication networks that govern key physiological processes in the body. Cytokine dysfunction is associated with numerous pathologies including autoimmune disorders and cancer, and both cytokines and cytokine antagonists have found their way into the clinic. Yet, there are still many unfulfilled promises and opportunities. In this project we will reinvestigate key aspects of cytokine receptor activation and signaling using novel insights and techniques recently developed in our laboratory. This will include the AcTakine concept for cell-specific targeting of cytokine activity, and applications of our MAPPIT, KISS and Virotrap toolboxes to systematically map protein interactions involved in cytokine signaling. We expect to obtain important new insights, both in fundamental and in applied medical sciences."
Max ERC Funding
2 487 728 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-02-01, End date: 2019-01-31
Project acronym HELIOS
Project Heavy Element Laser Ionization Spectroscopy
Researcher (PI) Pieter Van Duppen
Host Institution (HI) KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209
Summary The aim of this proposal is to develop a novel laser-spectroscopy method and to study nuclear and atomic properties of heaviests elements in order to address the following key questions:
- Is the existence of the heaviest isotopes determined by the interplay between single-particle and collective nucleon degrees of freedom in the atomic nucleus?
- How do relativistic effects and isotopic composition influence the valence atomic structure of the heaviest elements?
The new approach is based on in-gas jet, high-repetition, high-resolution laser resonance ionization spectroscopy of short-lived nuclear-reaction products stopped in a buffer gas cell. The final goal is to couple the new system to the strongest production facility under construction at the ESFRI-listed SPIRAL-2 facility at GANIL (France) and to study isotopes from actinium to nobelium and heavier elements.
An increase of the primary intensity, efficiency, selectivity and spectral resolution by one order of magnitude compared to present-day techniques is envisaged, which is essential to obtain the required data .
The challenges are:
- decoupling the high-intensity heavy ion production beam (> 10^14 particles per second) from the low-intensity reaction products (few atoms per second)
- cooling of the reaction products from MeV/u to meV/u within less then hundred milliseconds
- separating the wanted from the, by orders of magnitude overwhelming, unwanted isotopes
- performing high-resolution laser spectroscopy on a minute amount of atoms in an efficient way.
Nuclear properties (charge radii, nuclear moments and spins) as well as atomic properties (transition energies and ionization potentials) will be deduced in regions of the nuclear chart where they are not known: the neutron-deficient isotopes of the actinide elements, up to nobelium (Z = 102) and beyond. The data will validate state-of-the-art calculations, identify critical weaknesses and guide further theoretical developments.
Summary
The aim of this proposal is to develop a novel laser-spectroscopy method and to study nuclear and atomic properties of heaviests elements in order to address the following key questions:
- Is the existence of the heaviest isotopes determined by the interplay between single-particle and collective nucleon degrees of freedom in the atomic nucleus?
- How do relativistic effects and isotopic composition influence the valence atomic structure of the heaviest elements?
The new approach is based on in-gas jet, high-repetition, high-resolution laser resonance ionization spectroscopy of short-lived nuclear-reaction products stopped in a buffer gas cell. The final goal is to couple the new system to the strongest production facility under construction at the ESFRI-listed SPIRAL-2 facility at GANIL (France) and to study isotopes from actinium to nobelium and heavier elements.
An increase of the primary intensity, efficiency, selectivity and spectral resolution by one order of magnitude compared to present-day techniques is envisaged, which is essential to obtain the required data .
The challenges are:
- decoupling the high-intensity heavy ion production beam (> 10^14 particles per second) from the low-intensity reaction products (few atoms per second)
- cooling of the reaction products from MeV/u to meV/u within less then hundred milliseconds
- separating the wanted from the, by orders of magnitude overwhelming, unwanted isotopes
- performing high-resolution laser spectroscopy on a minute amount of atoms in an efficient way.
Nuclear properties (charge radii, nuclear moments and spins) as well as atomic properties (transition energies and ionization potentials) will be deduced in regions of the nuclear chart where they are not known: the neutron-deficient isotopes of the actinide elements, up to nobelium (Z = 102) and beyond. The data will validate state-of-the-art calculations, identify critical weaknesses and guide further theoretical developments.
Max ERC Funding
2 458 397 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-03-01, End date: 2017-02-28
Project acronym HOLOBHC
Project Holography for realistic black holes and cosmologies
Researcher (PI) Geoffrey Gaston Joseph Jean-Vincent Compère
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE LIBRE DE BRUXELLES
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2013-StG
Summary String theory provides with a consistent framework which combines quantum mechanics and gravity. Two grand challenges of fundamental physics - building realistic models of black holes and cosmologies - can be addressed in this framework thanks to novel holographic methods.
Recent astrophysical evidence indicates that some black holes rotate extremely fast, as close as 98% to the extremality bound. No quantum gravity model for such black holes has been formulated so far. My first objective is building the first model in string theory of an extremal black hole. Taking on this challenge is made possible thanks to recent advances in a remarkable duality known as the gauge/gravity correspondence. If successful, this program will pave the way to a description of quantum gravity effects that have been conjectured to occur close to the horizon of very fast rotating black holes.
Supernovae detection has established that our universe is starting a phase of accelerated expansion. This brings a pressing need to better understand still enigmatic features of de Sitter spacetime that models our universe at late times. My second objective is to derive new universal properties of the cosmological horizon of de Sitter spacetime using tools inspired from the gauge/gravity correspondence. These results will contribute to understand its remarkable entropy, which, according to the standard model of cosmology, bounds the entropy of our observable universe.
Summary
String theory provides with a consistent framework which combines quantum mechanics and gravity. Two grand challenges of fundamental physics - building realistic models of black holes and cosmologies - can be addressed in this framework thanks to novel holographic methods.
Recent astrophysical evidence indicates that some black holes rotate extremely fast, as close as 98% to the extremality bound. No quantum gravity model for such black holes has been formulated so far. My first objective is building the first model in string theory of an extremal black hole. Taking on this challenge is made possible thanks to recent advances in a remarkable duality known as the gauge/gravity correspondence. If successful, this program will pave the way to a description of quantum gravity effects that have been conjectured to occur close to the horizon of very fast rotating black holes.
Supernovae detection has established that our universe is starting a phase of accelerated expansion. This brings a pressing need to better understand still enigmatic features of de Sitter spacetime that models our universe at late times. My second objective is to derive new universal properties of the cosmological horizon of de Sitter spacetime using tools inspired from the gauge/gravity correspondence. These results will contribute to understand its remarkable entropy, which, according to the standard model of cosmology, bounds the entropy of our observable universe.
Max ERC Funding
1 020 084 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-02-01, End date: 2019-01-31
Project acronym HoloQosmos
Project Holographic Quantum Cosmology
Researcher (PI) Thomas Hertog
Host Institution (HI) KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE9, ERC-2013-CoG
Summary The current theory of cosmic inflation is largely based on classical physics. This undermines its predictivity in a world that is fundamentally quantum mechanical. With this project we will develop a novel approach towards a quantum theory of inflation. We will do this by introducing holographic techniques in cosmology. The notion of holography is the most profound conceptual breakthrough that has emerged form fundamental high-energy physics in recent years. It postulates that (quantum) gravitational systems such as the universe as a whole have a precise `holographic’ description in terms of quantum field theories defined on their boundary. Our aim is to develop a holographic framework for quantum cosmology. We will then apply this to three areas of theoretical cosmology where a quantum approach is of critical importance. First, we will put forward a holographic description of inflation that clarifies its microphysical origin and is rigorously predictive. Using this we will derive the distinct observational signatures of novel, truly holographic models of the early universe where inflation has no description in terms of classical cosmic evolution. Second, we will apply holographic cosmology to improve our understanding of eternal inflation. This is a phase deep into inflation where quantum effects dominate the evolution and affect the universe’s global structure. Finally we will work towards generalizing our holographic models of the primordial universe to include the radiation, matter and vacuum eras. The resulting unification of cosmic history in terms of a single holographic boundary theory may lead to intriguing predictions of correlations between early and late time observables, tying together the universe’s origin with its ultimate fate. Our project has the potential to revolutionize our perspective on cosmology and to further deepen the fruitful interaction between cosmology and high-energy physics.
Summary
The current theory of cosmic inflation is largely based on classical physics. This undermines its predictivity in a world that is fundamentally quantum mechanical. With this project we will develop a novel approach towards a quantum theory of inflation. We will do this by introducing holographic techniques in cosmology. The notion of holography is the most profound conceptual breakthrough that has emerged form fundamental high-energy physics in recent years. It postulates that (quantum) gravitational systems such as the universe as a whole have a precise `holographic’ description in terms of quantum field theories defined on their boundary. Our aim is to develop a holographic framework for quantum cosmology. We will then apply this to three areas of theoretical cosmology where a quantum approach is of critical importance. First, we will put forward a holographic description of inflation that clarifies its microphysical origin and is rigorously predictive. Using this we will derive the distinct observational signatures of novel, truly holographic models of the early universe where inflation has no description in terms of classical cosmic evolution. Second, we will apply holographic cosmology to improve our understanding of eternal inflation. This is a phase deep into inflation where quantum effects dominate the evolution and affect the universe’s global structure. Finally we will work towards generalizing our holographic models of the primordial universe to include the radiation, matter and vacuum eras. The resulting unification of cosmic history in terms of a single holographic boundary theory may lead to intriguing predictions of correlations between early and late time observables, tying together the universe’s origin with its ultimate fate. Our project has the potential to revolutionize our perspective on cosmology and to further deepen the fruitful interaction between cosmology and high-energy physics.
Max ERC Funding
1 995 900 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-08-01, End date: 2019-07-31
Project acronym MULTIWAVE
Project Multidisciplinary Studies of Extreme and Rogue Wave Phenomena
Researcher (PI) Frederic Dias
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209
Summary MULTIWAVE is an interdisciplinary project at the frontiers of mathematics, physics and engineering which will explore important open questions in nonlinear wave propagation and the emergence of extreme events. The work necessitates a Co-Investigator approach in order to carry out coordinated analytical, numerical and experimental studies of the nonlinear effects that form the subject of the proposal. The project builds on recent international developments in the field of nonlinear waves led by the co-investigators that have shown how analogies between optical systems and the deep ocean provide new insights into the generation of the infamous hydrodynamic rogue waves on the ocean. These results, which have led to the first experimental confirmation in 2010 of analytic predictions of hydrodynamics that have remained untested for 25 years, have now opened up the possibility for an optical system to directly study the dynamics and statistics of extreme nonlinear wave shaping. This is a tremendous advance comparable to the introduction of optical systems to study chaos in the 1970s, and the co-investigators aim to be at the forefront of this research effort. Core theoretical elements in the project will uncover the fundamental mechanisms underlying the emergence of large scale coherent structures from a turbulent environment, and resolve basic questions of energy transport in the presence of nonlinearity. These analytical studies will be complemented by numerical simulations and laboratory experiments in optical systems. Specifically, recent advances in optical technology will enable the benchtop development of an “optical wave tank” that will accurately simulate multiple propagation scenarios in hydrodynamics and ocean systems. Emphasis will be placed on extreme rogue wave events which are difficult or even impossible to study quantitatively in their natural oceanic environment.
Summary
MULTIWAVE is an interdisciplinary project at the frontiers of mathematics, physics and engineering which will explore important open questions in nonlinear wave propagation and the emergence of extreme events. The work necessitates a Co-Investigator approach in order to carry out coordinated analytical, numerical and experimental studies of the nonlinear effects that form the subject of the proposal. The project builds on recent international developments in the field of nonlinear waves led by the co-investigators that have shown how analogies between optical systems and the deep ocean provide new insights into the generation of the infamous hydrodynamic rogue waves on the ocean. These results, which have led to the first experimental confirmation in 2010 of analytic predictions of hydrodynamics that have remained untested for 25 years, have now opened up the possibility for an optical system to directly study the dynamics and statistics of extreme nonlinear wave shaping. This is a tremendous advance comparable to the introduction of optical systems to study chaos in the 1970s, and the co-investigators aim to be at the forefront of this research effort. Core theoretical elements in the project will uncover the fundamental mechanisms underlying the emergence of large scale coherent structures from a turbulent environment, and resolve basic questions of energy transport in the presence of nonlinearity. These analytical studies will be complemented by numerical simulations and laboratory experiments in optical systems. Specifically, recent advances in optical technology will enable the benchtop development of an “optical wave tank” that will accurately simulate multiple propagation scenarios in hydrodynamics and ocean systems. Emphasis will be placed on extreme rogue wave events which are difficult or even impossible to study quantitatively in their natural oceanic environment.
Max ERC Funding
1 831 800 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-04-01, End date: 2016-09-30
Project acronym SpecMAT
Project Spectroscopy of exotic nuclei in a Magnetic Active Target
Researcher (PI) Riccardo Raabe
Host Institution (HI) KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE2, ERC-2013-CoG
Summary SpecMAT aims at providing crucial experimental information to answer key questions about the structure of atomic nuclei:
- What are the forces driving the shell structure in nuclei and how do they change in nuclei far from stability?
- What remains of the Z = 28 and N = 50 “magic numbers” in 78Ni?
- Do we understand shape coexistence in nuclei, and what are the mechanisms controlling its appearance?
The position of natural and “intruder” shells will be mapped in two critical regions, the neutron-rich nuclei around Z = 28 and the neutron-deficient nuclei around Z = 82. The centroids of the shell strength are derived from the complete spectroscopy of those systems in nucleon-transfer measurements. This method will be applied for the first time in the region of neutron-deficient Pb nuclei.
In SpecMAT (Spectroscopy of exotic nuclei in a Magnetic Active Target) a novel instrument will overcome the present challenges in performing such measurements with very weak beams of unstable nuclei. It combines high luminosity, high efficiency and a very large dynamic range and allows detection of both charged-particle and gamma-ray radiation. The instrument owns its remarkable performances to a number of advanced technologies concerning the use of electronics, gaseous detectors and gamma-ray detectors in a magnetic field.
The SpecMAT detector will be coupled to the HIE-ISOLDE facility for the production and post-acceleration of radioactive ion beams in construction at CERN in Geneva. HIE-ISOLDE will provide world-unique beams thanks to the use of the proton injector of the CERN complex.
If successful, SpecMAT at HIE-ISOLDE will produce specific results in nuclear structure which cannot be reached by other programmes elsewhere. Such results will have a significant impact on the present theories and models of the atomic nucleus.
Summary
SpecMAT aims at providing crucial experimental information to answer key questions about the structure of atomic nuclei:
- What are the forces driving the shell structure in nuclei and how do they change in nuclei far from stability?
- What remains of the Z = 28 and N = 50 “magic numbers” in 78Ni?
- Do we understand shape coexistence in nuclei, and what are the mechanisms controlling its appearance?
The position of natural and “intruder” shells will be mapped in two critical regions, the neutron-rich nuclei around Z = 28 and the neutron-deficient nuclei around Z = 82. The centroids of the shell strength are derived from the complete spectroscopy of those systems in nucleon-transfer measurements. This method will be applied for the first time in the region of neutron-deficient Pb nuclei.
In SpecMAT (Spectroscopy of exotic nuclei in a Magnetic Active Target) a novel instrument will overcome the present challenges in performing such measurements with very weak beams of unstable nuclei. It combines high luminosity, high efficiency and a very large dynamic range and allows detection of both charged-particle and gamma-ray radiation. The instrument owns its remarkable performances to a number of advanced technologies concerning the use of electronics, gaseous detectors and gamma-ray detectors in a magnetic field.
The SpecMAT detector will be coupled to the HIE-ISOLDE facility for the production and post-acceleration of radioactive ion beams in construction at CERN in Geneva. HIE-ISOLDE will provide world-unique beams thanks to the use of the proton injector of the CERN complex.
If successful, SpecMAT at HIE-ISOLDE will produce specific results in nuclear structure which cannot be reached by other programmes elsewhere. Such results will have a significant impact on the present theories and models of the atomic nucleus.
Max ERC Funding
1 944 900 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-06-01, End date: 2019-05-31
Project acronym SPECULOOS
Project SPECULOOS: searching for habitable planets amenable for biosignatures detection around the nearest ultra-cool stars
Researcher (PI) Michaël Gillon
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE9, ERC-2013-StG
Summary "One of the most significant goals of modern astronomy is establishing whether life exists around other stars. The most direct path towards its achievement is the detection and spectroscopic characterization of terrestrial planets orbiting in the habitable zone of their host stars. The ~1000 nearest ultra-cool stars (UCS, spectral type M6 and latter) represent a unique opportunity to reach this goal within the next decade. Due to their small luminosity, their habitable zone is 30-100 times closer than for the Sun, the corresponding orbital periods ranging from one to a few days. Thanks to this proximity, the transits of habitable planets are much more probable and frequent than for Earth-Sun analogs, while the small size of UCS (~1 Jupiter radius) leads to transits deep enough for a ground-based detection, even for sub-Earth sized planets. Furthermore, habitable planets transiting nearby UCS would be amenable for a thorough atmospheric characterization with near-to-come world-class facilities, including the detection of possible biosignatures. Detecting such planets is the goal of SPECULOOS. Its instrumental concept is optimized for the detection of planets of Earth-size and below transiting the nearest Southern UCS. It consists in several robotic 1m-class telescopes equipped with new generation CCD cameras optimized for the near-IR and operating from one of the best astronomical sites of the Southern hemisphere. SPECULOOS will perform the first exploration of the Terra Incognita of planets around UCS, and detect the first terrestrial planets amenable for atmospheric characterization."
Summary
"One of the most significant goals of modern astronomy is establishing whether life exists around other stars. The most direct path towards its achievement is the detection and spectroscopic characterization of terrestrial planets orbiting in the habitable zone of their host stars. The ~1000 nearest ultra-cool stars (UCS, spectral type M6 and latter) represent a unique opportunity to reach this goal within the next decade. Due to their small luminosity, their habitable zone is 30-100 times closer than for the Sun, the corresponding orbital periods ranging from one to a few days. Thanks to this proximity, the transits of habitable planets are much more probable and frequent than for Earth-Sun analogs, while the small size of UCS (~1 Jupiter radius) leads to transits deep enough for a ground-based detection, even for sub-Earth sized planets. Furthermore, habitable planets transiting nearby UCS would be amenable for a thorough atmospheric characterization with near-to-come world-class facilities, including the detection of possible biosignatures. Detecting such planets is the goal of SPECULOOS. Its instrumental concept is optimized for the detection of planets of Earth-size and below transiting the nearest Southern UCS. It consists in several robotic 1m-class telescopes equipped with new generation CCD cameras optimized for the near-IR and operating from one of the best astronomical sites of the Southern hemisphere. SPECULOOS will perform the first exploration of the Terra Incognita of planets around UCS, and detect the first terrestrial planets amenable for atmospheric characterization."
Max ERC Funding
1 963 990 €
Duration
Start date: 2014-01-01, End date: 2018-12-31
Project acronym SULFENIC
Project Unraveling the cellular sulfenome: a search for new redox-regulated pathways
Researcher (PI) Jean-Francois Gaëtan Collet
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS1, ERC-2011-StG_20101109
Summary Within proteins, cysteine residues are sensitive to oxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The first oxidation product of cysteines exposed to ROS is the sulfenic acid derivative (-SOH). Sulfenic acids are highly reactive intermediates that, unless they are stabilized within the protein microenvironment, react with another cysteine present in the vicinity to form a disulfide or are further oxidized to the irreversible sulfinic (-SO2H) and sulfonic (-SO3H) acid modifications. Sulfenic acid formation has traditionally been viewed as an unwanted reaction opening the way to damages that are harmful to proteins. However, it has become clear in recent years that formation of sulfenic acids is not always deleterious to the cell. A new concept is emerging, in which sulfenylation of specific cysteine residues modulates signal transduction pathways by altering the activity and function of cellular proteins, just as phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cycles regulate enzyme activities and cellular pathways. However, the modulation of protein function by sulfenic acid formation has been unambiguously shown for only a few proteins. We postulate that specific oxidation of cysteine residues via sulfenylation modulates the activity of many more proteins and pathways and that numerous sulfenylation sites have not yet been recognized. We want to apply an unprecedented multi-facetted approach to fully grasp the physiological scope of cysteine sulfenic acid formation by uncovering the sulfenome of a living organism, using Escherichia coli as a model. The main objectives of our research program are (1) to comprehensively characterize the sulfenome of E. coli, 2) to identify new proteins and pathways regulated by sulfenylation and (3) to understand how sulfenyla-tion is controlled at the cellular level. If our hypothesis proves to be true, our project will uncover a new “redox dimension” affecting many cellular processes and pathways, opening up new avenues of investigation.
Summary
Within proteins, cysteine residues are sensitive to oxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The first oxidation product of cysteines exposed to ROS is the sulfenic acid derivative (-SOH). Sulfenic acids are highly reactive intermediates that, unless they are stabilized within the protein microenvironment, react with another cysteine present in the vicinity to form a disulfide or are further oxidized to the irreversible sulfinic (-SO2H) and sulfonic (-SO3H) acid modifications. Sulfenic acid formation has traditionally been viewed as an unwanted reaction opening the way to damages that are harmful to proteins. However, it has become clear in recent years that formation of sulfenic acids is not always deleterious to the cell. A new concept is emerging, in which sulfenylation of specific cysteine residues modulates signal transduction pathways by altering the activity and function of cellular proteins, just as phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cycles regulate enzyme activities and cellular pathways. However, the modulation of protein function by sulfenic acid formation has been unambiguously shown for only a few proteins. We postulate that specific oxidation of cysteine residues via sulfenylation modulates the activity of many more proteins and pathways and that numerous sulfenylation sites have not yet been recognized. We want to apply an unprecedented multi-facetted approach to fully grasp the physiological scope of cysteine sulfenic acid formation by uncovering the sulfenome of a living organism, using Escherichia coli as a model. The main objectives of our research program are (1) to comprehensively characterize the sulfenome of E. coli, 2) to identify new proteins and pathways regulated by sulfenylation and (3) to understand how sulfenyla-tion is controlled at the cellular level. If our hypothesis proves to be true, our project will uncover a new “redox dimension” affecting many cellular processes and pathways, opening up new avenues of investigation.
Max ERC Funding
1 492 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-11-01, End date: 2016-10-31
Project acronym vortex
Project Taking extrasolar planet imaging to a new level with vector vortex coronagraphy
Researcher (PI) Olivier Absil
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE9, ERC-2013-StG
Summary Vector vortex coronagraphs (VVC) are among the most promising solutions to directly image faint extrasolar planets by dimming the glare of their nearby host star. Manufacturing and efficiently operating such devices is however a challenging enterprise, especially in the thermal infrared regime where warm planets radiate most of their energy. For several years, we have been developing a new class of VVC, called the Annular Groove Phase Mask (AGPM) coronagraph. Etched on a diamond substrate, this coronagraph can be operated at any wavelength, including the thermal infrared, thanks to the excellent transparency properties of diamond. We are now at a stage where the first components have been manufactured and tested. The proposed research program has three main goals. First, we will install and exploit the first generation of AGPM coronagraphs on large telescopes in world-leading observatories. By providing a means to efficiently cancel the starlight in the thermal infrared regime for the first time, our AGPMs will significantly contribute to the discoveries and characterisation of exoplanets beyond a few astronomical units. Second, we aim at developing new AGPM coronagraphs for the next generation of imaging instruments. We will particularly focus our developments on the instruments planned for the future extremely large telescopes, which will bring the direct imaging of exoplanets to a new level. Finally, we will study, develop and test a ground-breaking concept that could improve very significantly the on-sky performance of VVCs in general. This concept is based on the quantum properties of light and in particular on the fact that an optical vortex induces an orbital angular momentum on the input starlight. We propose to use an interferometric device to sort photons based on their orbital angular momentum, so as to separate the planetary light from the residual starlight (including the speckles created by atmospheric turbulence) at the output of the coronagraph.
Summary
Vector vortex coronagraphs (VVC) are among the most promising solutions to directly image faint extrasolar planets by dimming the glare of their nearby host star. Manufacturing and efficiently operating such devices is however a challenging enterprise, especially in the thermal infrared regime where warm planets radiate most of their energy. For several years, we have been developing a new class of VVC, called the Annular Groove Phase Mask (AGPM) coronagraph. Etched on a diamond substrate, this coronagraph can be operated at any wavelength, including the thermal infrared, thanks to the excellent transparency properties of diamond. We are now at a stage where the first components have been manufactured and tested. The proposed research program has three main goals. First, we will install and exploit the first generation of AGPM coronagraphs on large telescopes in world-leading observatories. By providing a means to efficiently cancel the starlight in the thermal infrared regime for the first time, our AGPMs will significantly contribute to the discoveries and characterisation of exoplanets beyond a few astronomical units. Second, we aim at developing new AGPM coronagraphs for the next generation of imaging instruments. We will particularly focus our developments on the instruments planned for the future extremely large telescopes, which will bring the direct imaging of exoplanets to a new level. Finally, we will study, develop and test a ground-breaking concept that could improve very significantly the on-sky performance of VVCs in general. This concept is based on the quantum properties of light and in particular on the fact that an optical vortex induces an orbital angular momentum on the input starlight. We propose to use an interferometric device to sort photons based on their orbital angular momentum, so as to separate the planetary light from the residual starlight (including the speckles created by atmospheric turbulence) at the output of the coronagraph.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 200 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-09-01, End date: 2018-08-31
