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Buren, D. Van

Publications and source records attributed to Buren, D. Van.

Wide Field Infra-Red Survey Telescope (WFIRST) 2.4-Meter Mission Study

The most recent study of the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission is based on reuse of an existing 2.4m telescope. This study was commissioned by NASA to examine the potential science return and cost effectiveness of WFIRST by using this significantly larger aperture telescope. We review the science program envisioned by the WFIRST 2012-2013 Science Definition Team (SDT), an overview of the mission concept, and the telescope design and status. Comparisons against the previous 1.3m and reduced cost 1.1m WFIRST design concepts are discussed. A significant departure from past point designs is the option for serviceability and the geostationary orbit location which enables servicing and replacement instrument insertion later during mission life. Other papers at this conference provide more in depth discussion of the wide field instrument and the optional exoplanet imaging coronagraph instrument.

exoplanet imaging coronagraph

The spectrum of TMR-1C is consistant with a background star

In a previous paper we proposed that there may be a population of runaway planets and brown dwarfs that formed via ejection from multiple-star systems. We further suggested TMR-1C as a candidate runaway protoplanet.

circumsteller matter planetsbrown drawf

A K-Band Search for Starburst Supernovae

We are conducting a search for supernovae in starburst galaxies at the IRTF. Teh najor difficulty is to reliably detect weak point sources in the presence of a bright and structured background.

supernovae starburst galaxies IRTF infrared fluxes

Palomar Prime-Focus Infrared Camera (PFIRCAM)

In a joint effort between engineers and scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology, a near-infrared direct imaging system has been developed and integrated into the Caltech Palomar Observatory detector series.

Palamar