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Wholesale High Contrast Imaging with the Roman Wide Field Instrument
Program ID 19089
Science Category Exoplanets & Exoplanet Formation
Program Type Analysis
Category Large
Principal Investigator Kellen Lawson
PI Institution University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Co-Investigators
  • Joshua Schlieder (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
  • Jennie Paine (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
  • Robert Wilson (University of Maryland, College Park)
  • Ami Choi (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
  • Michael McElwain (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
  • Jarron Leisenring (University of Arizona, Steward Observatory)
  • Tyler Groff (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
  • Christina Hedges (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
  • Ellis Bogat (University of Maryland, College Park)
  • Jorge Martinez Palomera (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
  • Brian Powell (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
  • Timothy Brandt (Space Telescope Science Institute / STScI)
  • Analia Cillis (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
  • Dana Louie (Catholic University of America)
  • Ian Crossfield (University of Kansas)
  • Neil Zimmerman (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
  • Michael Meyer (University of Michigan)
  • Michael Liu (University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy)
  • Sam Walker (University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy)
Abstract We propose to carry out a high-contrast imaging (HCI) search for substellar companions and debris disks in High Latitude Wide Area Survey (HLWAS) observations from the Roman Wide Field Instrument (WFI). The unprecedented combination of sensitivity, angular resolution, and wavefront stability for these observations will transform HCI from the realm of individual targets to large and diverse samples — providing access to a largely unexplored discovery space around the lower mass and more mature systems that are neglected by single-target campaigns. To realize this potential, we will further develop two complementary PSF-subtraction techniques, specifically tailored to address WFI’s undersampled, field-dependent, and flux-dependent PSF. Once applied, we expect to discover approximately one planetary-mass companion, one hundred brown dwarf companions, and 4–26 debris disks in Cycle 1 data — all of which are overwhelmingly around mature, low-mass hosts. In addition, we will deliver tools for WFI high-contrast imaging and PSF model generation that will unlock the profound potential of future Roman survey observations — promising hundreds of additional discoveries from the full suite of WFI survey data and settling long standing questions in planet formation and evolution around low mass stars.