Simulations for Upcoming and Proposed Exoplanet Surveys as Pathfinders for Direct Imaging Missions

Abstract

Orbital direct imaging missions (eg: HabEx, LUVOIR, HWO), expect to have great yields in exoplanet characterization, but limited flight times that could be best used if not spend on detection. Ground-based EPRV can provide target lists and best observation times for a fraction of the cost and in a short enough time-frame to be ready before launch. These missions in turn represent a significant resource investment and should be arranged to maximize planet detection and orbit/mass characterization.For these I present: 1) A code to simulate radial velocity surveys, along with a project using it in proposed next generation RV surveys, and 2) More general characterization of RV survey parameters and yields for differing target lists and prioritization strategies. These results are used to provide partial characterization, and survey program recommendations. Additionally, existing photometric measurements of stars have high relative precision, though much lower absolute precision. Flying a light source with known properties can provide high precision calibration that includes atmospheric effects. For these I present: an outline of simulations of the apparent brightness of diode and black-body light sources through the filters of current and upcoming ground and space based observatories at realistic distances. From these results, I present recommendations for selecting light sources and orbits.