June 22-26, 2015
 

********* 2nd Announcement *********

In the spirit of Bernard Lyot 2015

Direct Detection of Exoplanets and Circumstellar Disks

Montréal, June 22th to 26th, 2015


Dear Colleagues,

This is the official 2nd announcement for the conference « In the Spirit of Bernard Lyot 2015 : Direct Detection of Exoplanets and Circumstellar Disks » to be held in Montréal in June (22 - 26) 2015. For all the details, please visit the conference webpage: http://craq-astro.ca/lyot2015

REGISTRATION IS OPEN http://craq-astro.ca/lyot2015/registration_en.php

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

  • Early-registration: March 19th
  • Abstract submission (talk/poster): April 17th

If you are interested in participating please fill out the registration form on our webpage. You can also submit, in a separate step, an oral or a poster contribution. Please note that all oral contributions must be approved by the Scientific Organizing Committee (after April 17th); in cases where an oral contribution cannot be scheduled, the registrant's abstract will be accepted as a poster contribution.

CONFERENCE PURPOSE AND SCOPE

In the last 20 years, the field of exoplanet studies rapidly evolved to become one of the most active in astronomy. Nearly 2000 planets have now been identified outside of our solar system. The search for and study of these objects occupy a sizeable fraction of observing time on large facilities worldwide, often using instruments built mainly or exclusively for that purpose. In addition, many ambitious new ground- and space-based projects are currently being developed to push the limits even further.

This research field relies on several complementary observational techniques, with indirect studies using radial velocity or photometric monitoring of the stellar hosts being responsible for the vast majority of the data collected so far. But today, after years of developments and the start of operation of a new generation of high contrast "planet finders", direct imaging is emerging as another major contributor to this exciting enterprise. This method will help to develop a more complete picture of the full diversity of exoplanet systems, by exploring longer orbital periods. Direct imaging also provides a unique means to obtain information about the atmospheric properties of young gas giants. The few direct imaging detections accomplished thus far give only a small glimpse of the breakthroughs that are expected in the few years to come.

This conference will be focused on the direct detection and characterization of exoplanets and circumstellar disks.

PROPOSED SESSIONS

  • Status of exoplanet science
  • High-contrast imaging -- current capabilities
  • Properties of exoplanets and low mass objects
  • Debris and protoplanetary disks
  • Exoplanet population & statistics
  • Upcoming facilities and opportunities
  • Atmosphere of exoplanets and low mass objects
  • Planetary systems architecture & dynamics

CONFIRMED INVITED SPEAKERS

  • Jonathan Fortney (University of California, Santa Cruz)
  • Tristan Guillot (Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur CNRS)
  • Bruce Macintosh (Stanford University)
  • Brenda Matthews (University of Victoria / National Research Council Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics)
  • Dimitri Mawet (European Southern Observatory)
  • Christoph Mordasini (Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie)
  • Ruth Murray-Clay (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics/University of California, Santa Barbara)
  • Laurent Pueyo (Space Telescope Science Institute)
  • Giovanna Tinetti (University College London)

CONFERENCE VENUE

The conference will be held at Hotel Marriott Chateau-Champlain (see maps on the conference webpage). It is located directly in Montreal Downtown. Book your group rate: In the Spirit of Lyot

Since Montreal is a very busy touristic place in the summer, it would be wise to book your room at this hotel as early as possible in order to benefit from the conference preferential rates. All the hotel information can be found on the conference webpage. Please note that a total of 100$ hotel fee is included in the registration fees. This amount will be credited to *your bill* at the Hotel Chateau Champlain. Participants who decide to choose another hotel will not have the discount on their hotel invoice.

FEES

The conference registration fees are:

  • Student*: $300 CAN if room booked at the Hotel Marriott Chateau-Champlain**, $400 otherwise;
  • General: $450 CAN if room booked at the Hotel Marriott Chateau-Champlain**, $550 otherwise;
  • Banquet: $90 CAN
  • Late registration (after March 19th): +$100 CAN

All taxes are included.

*We will offer limited financial assistance to students, please indicate on the registration form if you need it. The amount will be determined later based on availability of funds.

**The full amount will be charged at the time of registration (i.e. $400 or $550) and a credit of $100 will be applied upon checkout of the hotel.

The registration fees include the opening reception at the new Planétarium de Montréal (on Monday evening, the first day of the conference) and all coffee breaks. The conference banquet is charged separately (90 $ CAD per person). The banquet will be held at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal (10-minute walk from the Hotel Marriott) with a full access to the RODIN exhibition with guided tour. https://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/exhibitions/upcoming/rodin-metamorphoses/

Looking forward to see you all in Montréal this summer!

On behalf of the LOC.

 


********* First announcement *********

In the spirit of Bernard Lyot 2015

Direct Detection of Exoplanets and Circumstellar Disks

Montréal, June 22th to 26th, 2015


The conference will take place at the Hotel Marriott Chateau Champlain (downtown).

Conference purpose and scope:

In the last 20 years, the field of exoplanet studies rapidly evolved to become one of the most active in astronomy. Nearly 2000 planets have now been identified outside of our solar system. The search for and study of these objects occupy a sizeable fraction of observing time on large facilities worldwide, often using instruments built mainly or exclusively for that purpose. In addition, many ambitious new ground- and space-based projects are currently being developed to push the limits even further.

This research field relies on several complementary observational techniques, with indirect studies using radial velocity or photometric monitoring of the stellar hosts being responsible for the vast majority of the data collected so far. But today, after years of developments and the start of operation of a new generation of high contrast "planet finders", direct imaging is emerging as another major contributor to this exciting enterprise. This method will help to develop a more complete picture of the full diversity of exoplanet systems, by exploring longer orbital periods. Direct imaging also provides a unique means to obtain information about the atmospheric properties of young gas giants. The few direct imaging detections accomplished thus far give only a small glimpse of the breakthroughs that are expected in the few years to come.

This conference will be focused on the direct detection and characterization of exoplanets and circumstellar disks, including the following topics:

  • Current surveys, results & population statistics
  • Characterization of known imaged planets and systems
  • Planet mass estimates from luminosity and spectra & independent mass constraints
  • High-contrast observation and image processing techniques
  • Planet formation, evolution and atmosphere models in view of current results
  • Synergy of direct imaging with other techniques (RV, astrometry, transits, etc.)
  • Wide companions, brown dwarfs and isolated planetary-mass objects
  • Debris and protoplanetary disks
  • Planetary system architecture & dynamics, planet-disk interactions
  • Host star properties (ages, metallicity, rotation, etc.)
  • New concepts and advances for high-contrast imaging instrumentation
  • Near- and long-term future projects, space missions, and ELT’s

We strongly encourage students to come and will provide some limited grants for student participants.

About this conference series:

Inventor of the coronagraph, Bernard Lyot was a pioneer in the field of high contrast imaging and many of the techniques used today for disks and exoplanets imaging derive from his coronagraph concept. In addition to his instrumentation work, Lyot really focused his activities on scientific research and he made many important discoveries, such as the first detection of spectral lines in the solar corona -- which he made using his coronagraph. Thus, Bernard Lyot symbolises the synergy between technical innovation and science breakthroughs that is inherent to our field of research.

The first "In the Spirit of Bernard Lyot" conference was held in Berkeley in 2007 and the second one was held in Paris in 2010. This conference will be the third of this series.