Large Interferometer for Exoplanets (LIFE): characterizing the mid-infrared thermal emission of terrestrial exoplanets
- 1University of Groningen, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, Groningen, Netherlands (tim.lichtenberg@rug.nl)
- 2Institute for Particle Physics & Astrophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- 3Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- 4Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, Toronto, Canada
- 5European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany
- 6Center for Space and Habitability, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- 7Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- 8Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- 9Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, Germany
- 10Department of Extrasolar Planets and Atmospheres, Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany
- 11https://LIFE-space-mission.com
The atmospheric characterization of a significant number of terrestrial exoplanets is a major goal of 21st century astrophysics. However, none of the currently adopted missions worldwide has the technical capabilities to achieve this goal. Here we present the LIFE mission concept, which addresses this issue by investigating the scientific potential and technological challenges of an ambitious mission employing a formation-flying nulling interferometer in space working at mid-infrared wavelengths. LIFE, in synergy with other planned future missions, will for the first time in human history enable us to understanding global biosignatures and planetary habitability in the context of the diversity of planetary systems. Breakthroughs in our understanding of the exoplanet population and relevant technologies justify the need, but also the feasibility, for future atmosphere characterization and life detection missions to investigate one of the most fundamental questions of humankind: how frequent and diverse are global biospheres in the galaxy?
How to cite: Lichtenberg, T., Quanz, S., Noack, L., Angerhausen, D., Rugheimer, S., Glauser, A., Kammerer, J., Fortier, A., Ireland, M., Defrère, D., Linz, H., Iro, N., and Collaboration, L.: Large Interferometer for Exoplanets (LIFE): characterizing the mid-infrared thermal emission of terrestrial exoplanets, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-15544, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-15544, 2024.
