Recognizing the Value of the Solar Gravitational Lens for Direct Multipixel Imaging and Spectroscopy of an Exoplanet

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of the Solar Gravitational Lens (SGL) to enable high-resolution, direct imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanets at 30 parsecs, offering unprecedented remote sensing capabilities for exoplanet exploration.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of using the SGL with a modest telescope for detailed imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanets, highlighting its advantages over current technologies.

Findings

SGL provides brightness amplification of ~10^11 at 1 μm wavelength.

A 1-meter telescope can image exoplanets with kilometer-scale resolution.

Spectroscopic SNR of ~10^-6 achievable in two weeks of integration.

Abstract

The Solar Gravitational Lens (SGL) allows for major brightness amplification ($\sim 10^{11}$ at wavelength of $1~\mu$m) and extreme angular resolution ($\sim10^{-10}$ arcsec) within a narrow field of view. A meter-class telescope, with a modest coronagraph to block solar light with 1e-6 suppression placed in the focal area of the SGL, can image an exoplanet at a distance of 30 parsec with few kilometer-scale resolution on its surface. Notably, spectroscopic broadband SNR is $\sim 10^{-6}$ in two weeks of integration time, providing this instrument with incredible remote sensing capabilities. A mission capable of exploiting the remarkable optical properties of the SGL allows for direct high-resolution imaging/spectroscopy of a potentially habitable exoplanet. Such missions could allow exploration of exoplanets relying on the SGL capabilities decades, if not centuries, earlier than possible with other extant technologies.