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| Paper: |
Detection of Extra-Solar Planets by Computational Convexity |
| Volume: |
213, Bioastronomy '99: A New Era in Bioastronomy |
| Page: |
173 |
| Authors: |
de Morais, Antonio |
| Abstract: |
The detection of extra-solar planets depends fundamentally on precise optical equipment and on excellent processing techniques of the data generated by the equipment. Here in this paper, I propose the use of a pixel data detection of extra- solar Earth/Europa-class planets (capable of supporting the possibility of biological activity) by an infrared interferometer spacecraft. The computational convexity technique is related to n-dimensional geometry which is applied, as an example, to the analysis of curvatures of space-time geometries in the Universe. It is a very powerful computational tool for understanding and analysing hyperspectral data, especially for the mixed pixel problem. It is a method for mapping targets, based on their spectral signatures, in the presence of complicated and unknown backgrounds. The targets can be major scene components. The spectra of the background substances are not required. The complexity of the unmixing is driven by the number of targets, not by the number of total substances in the scene and background. This uncouples the processing complexity from the scene complexity. The method is rapid, automatic and repeatable. A future NASA's or ESA's mission of an infrared interferometer spacecraft (with liquid helium inside), in heliocentric orbit, to detect directly Earth/ Europa-class planets (capable of supporting life) around other stars/'jupiters', could use the pixel data computational convexity technique to increase greatly the detection capabilities. |
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