Scientists have recently developed a revolutionary technology that could potentially lead to the discovery of new Earth-like planets. The development of an astrocomb by physicists now allows for the analysis of the blue-green light emitted by stars. These astrocombs are able to detect slight variations in a star’s light caused by orbiting exoplanets, which are planets outside of our solar system. This breakthrough is expanding the possibilities within the field of space exploration and could potentially lead to significant discoveries in the realm of planetary science.
Dr. Samantha Thompson from Cambridge University has expressed excitement over the potential for this new technology to allow for the study of smaller planets with longer orbits. By examining shorter wavelength light, researchers hope to uncover previously unknown secrets of the universe. Heriot-Watt Professor Derryck Reid noted that the technology can provide a continuous sequence of optical markers from the ultraviolet to the blue-green, serving as a precision wavelength scale in this part of the spectrum.
The technology is currently being developed for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) being constructed in Chile’s Atacama Desert, which will have a 39-meter primary mirror and be one of the largest visible and infrared light telescopes in operation today. The UK team involved in this project will also be working on implementing astrocombs for telescopes in South Africa and the Canary Islands, opening up new avenues for space exploration and research into exoplanets and their potential habitability.