从南极洲用微引力透镜技术探测太阳系外类地行星

Detecting Earth-like Extra-solar Planets from Antarctica by Gravitational Microlensing

太阳系外的类地行星可借助1米级望远镜用微引力透镜技术探测．基本的要求是能对银河核球进行连续观测的能力．置于南极洲冰穹A或冰穹C的望远镜特别合适．这里叙说两种可能的观测方案,一是使用一架1米的可见光望远镜(Ⅴ和Ⅰ通带),另一是用一台2米的大视场近红外望远镜．利用它们可以在数年内对类地行星在银河系内的丰度作一粗略测量,也可以对恒星大气作有用的测量．

Earth-like extra-solar planets may be detected with 1-2m class telescopes using the gravitational microlensing technique. The essential requirement is the ability to be able to carry out continuous observations of the galactic bulge. A telescope situated at Dome A or Dome C in Antarctica would be eminently suitable. Two possible observing strategies are described here. One employs a i m visible （V and I passbands） telescope, the other a 2 m wide-field near infrared telescope. Either telescope could allow a rough measurement of the abundance of Earth-like planets in the Milky Way to be made in few years. Useful measurements could also be made on stellar atmospheres.