Exoplanet Coronagraphy

My primary research area in science: I use state-of-the art coronagraphs from both space observatories (Hubble Space Telescope's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph) and ground-based extreme-adaptive-optics-equipped coronagraphs (Gemini Planet Imager from the Gemini Observatory, SPHERE from the Very Large Telescope) to study circumstellar structures. The research topics can be categorized into three areas:

1. Spiral Arms and "Missing Planets"

   • I am leading the SAFFRON survey to map the orbits of these hidden planets: they drive the spirals. These planets are the best targets for the next generation space-based telescopes.

2. Planets embedded in disks

   • We have been extracting planets that coexist with disks. Due to the low occurence rate of such planets, they will be unique astrophysical laboratories to test planet-disk interaction theories.

3. Exo–Kuiper Belts

   • We have been characterizing extrasolar Kuiper Belts. They could be the water resevior for extrasolar planets that might host life.