Planets outside the solar system : theory and observations ; [proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Planets Outside the Solar System : Theory and Observations, Cargèse, Corsica, France, May 5-15, 1998

The question of the existence of other worlds and other living beings has been present in the human quest for knowledge since as far as Epicurus. For centuries this question belonged to the fields of philosophy and theology. The theoretical problem of the formation of the Solar System, and hence of other planetary systems, was tackled only during the 18th century, while the first observational attempts for a detection started less than one hundred years ago. Direct observation of an extra-solar planetary system is an extraordinarily difficult problem: extra-solar planets are at huge distances, are incredibly faint and are overwhelmed by the bright light of their own stars. With virtually no observational insight to test their models, theoreticians have remained for decades in a difficult position to make substantial progress. Yet, the field of stellar formation has provided since the 1980s both the the­ oretical and observational evidences for the formation of discs at the stage of star birth and for debris materials orbiting the very young stellar systems. It was tempting to consider that these left-overs might indeed later agglomerate into planetary systems more or less similar to ours. Then came observational evidences for planets outside the Solar System. The Observation And Understanding Of Extra-solar Planetary Systems Has Become A Very Exciting Topic That Poses Challenges To Many Fields Of Human Knowledge. A Few Years After The First Observational Evidence Of Planets Outside The Solar System, This Field Of Research Has Experienced Spectacular Developments. One Of The Characteristics Of The Field Is That It Draws Together Researchers From A Variety Of Fields: Astrophysics, Geophysics, Biochemistry, Etc., And Opens Up New Areas For Their Interactions. This Book Sets Out A Synthesis Of The Advances And Points Of View Of This Adventure. Young Students, Researchers, Engineers Involved Or About To Become Involved In This Challenging Quest For Extra-solar Planets Will Benefit By Reading Such A Synthetic Review. Jean-maric Mariotti (1955/1998) -- The Unfinished History Of Planet Searches / M. Harwit -- Latest Stages Of Star Formation And Circumstellar Environment Of Young Stellar Objects / A. Dutrey -- Infalling Material On Young Stars / V. P. Grinin -- Protostellar Discs And Planet Formation / J. C. B. Papaloizou, C. Terquem And R. P. Nelson -- Zodiacal Dust In The Earth Sciences / B. Olsson -- Circumstellar Disks And Outer Planet Formation / A. Lecavelier Des Etangs -- Dynamical Interactions Of Planets In The Circumstellar Disk / P. Artymowicz -- The New Planetary Systems / D. Queloz -- Extra-solar Giant Planet And Brown Dwarf Theory / A. Burrows -- From The Interstellar Medium To Planetary Atmospheres Via Comets / T. Owen And A. Bar-nun -- Convection And Giant Planet Formation / G. Wuchterl -- Extra-solar Planets: Atmospheres / J. Kasting -- Astrometric Techniques / M. M. Colavita -- Searching For Unseen Planets Via Occultation And Microlensing / P. D. Sackett -- Indirect Searches : Doppler Spectroscopy And Pulsar Timing / D. Queloz -- Frequency Analysis And Extra-solar Planets / M. Konacki And A. J. Maciejewski -- Direct Searches : Imaging, Dark Speckle And Coronography / A. Labeyrie -- Direct Searches : Interferometric Methods / J.-m. Mariotti, B. Mennesson And A. Leger -- Large Ground-based Telescopes With High Order Adaptive Optics For Imaging Faint Objects And Extra-solar Planets / M. Langlois, D. Sandler And D. Mccarthy -- Reflected Light From Close-in Extrasolar Giant Planets / D. Charbonneau Strategies For Space Programs / P. Y. Bely -- Biological Foundations Of Life / M.-c. Maurel -- The Contributions Of Iso To Exoplanetary Systems Research And Astrobiology / P. Claes -- Are We Alone In The Cosmos? Six Myths And A Mantra / T. Owen -- Strategies For Remote Detection Of Life / A. Leger -- The Scenary Of Extra-solar Planet Search, From An Extragalactic Viewpoint / D. Alloin. Edited By J.-m. Mariotti And D. Alloin. Proceedings Of The Nato Advanced Study Institute On Planets Outside The Solar System: Theory And Observations, Cargese, Corsica, France, May 5-15, 1998. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii Front Matter....Pages 1-2 The Unfinished History of Planet Searches....Pages 3-12 Latest Stages of Star Formation and Circumstellar Environment of Young Stellar Objects....Pages 13-50 Infalling Materials on Young Stars....Pages 51-64 Protostellar Discs and Planet Formation....Pages 65-86 Zodiacal Dust in The Earth Sciences....Pages 87-94 Circumstellar Disks and Outer Planet Formation....Pages 95-104 Dynamical Interaction of Planets in The Circumstellar Disk....Pages 105-106 The New Planetary Systems....Pages 107-120 Extrasolar Giant Planet and Brown Dwarf Theory....Pages 121-140 From The Interstellar Medium to Planetary Atmospheres Via Comets....Pages 141-154 Giant Planet Formation....Pages 155-172 Extra-Solar Planets: Atmospheres....Pages 173-173 Front Matter....Pages 175-176 Astrometric Techniques....Pages 177-188 Searching for Unseen Planets Via Occultation and Microlensing....Pages 189-228 Indirect Searches: Doppler Spectroscopy and Pulsar Timing....Pages 229-248 Frequency Analysis and Extrasolar Planets....Pages 249-260 Direct Searches: Imaging, Dark Speckle and Coronagraphy....Pages 261-280 Direct Searches: Interferometric Methods....Pages 281-296 Large Ground-Based Telescopes with High Order Adaptive Optics for Imaging Faint Objects and Extra-Solar Planets....Pages 297-306 Reflected Light From Close-In Extrasolar Giant Planets....Pages 307-318 Front Matter....Pages 175-176 Strategies for Space Programs....Pages 319-327 Front Matter....Pages 329-330 Biological Foundations of Life....Pages 331-364 The Contribution of ISO to Exoplanetary Systems Research and Astrobiology....Pages 365-380 Are We Alone in The Cosmos?....Pages 381-396 Strategies for Remote Detection of Life....Pages 397-412 The Scenary of Extra-Solar Planet Search, From an Extragalactic Viewpoint....Pages 413-419 Back Matter....Pages 421-421