[Colloquium] Max Millar-Blanchaer (UCSB)

Direct Imaging of Exoplanets Now and Into the Future

We have now discovered over 6000 exoplanets, revealing an extremely diverse population of system architectures. Of all of these systems we have only been able to directly image a small handful of them. Yet, from these imaged systems we have been able to characterize both exoplanet atmospheres and system architectures. With current technologies these systems are limited to young hot super Jupiters. In the long term, NASA is developing plans for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), a planned mission for the 2045s with the explicit goal of directly detecting and characterizing Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars. At UCSB we have been carrying out a variety of high-contrast imaging observational studies, instrument upgrades and planning for future instrumentation. Our group’s observational work focuses on studying exoplanetary system architectures, mainly through the detection and characterization of extra-solar asteroid belts, known as debris disks. We have also been planning for and implementing new polarimetry modes, such as the recently installed polarimetry mode at the Keck II telescope, to be used for future studies of protoplanetary and debris disks. Finally, we have been preparing for future space telescope missions, such as the Roman Space Telescope and HWO. As members of the Roman Coronagraph Instrument Community Participation Team, we have been leading the development of the data reduction pipeline and simulation suite, in preparation for a Fall 2026 launch. In preparation for the launch of the Habitable Worlds Observatory, we have been carrying out technology development and detailed optical modeling. In this talk I’ll provide an overview of some of the recent results from the direct imaging field and provide a look towards what’s coming from the next generation of telescopes, with a focus on the work being carried out within our group as UCSB.