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W.A. Traub, K.W. Jucks (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), C. Noecker (Ball Aerospace)
As part of an ongoing Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) architecture study, we have examined a wide range of wavelengths in the visible and infrared regions for spectral features (biomarkers) which might be interpreted in such a way as to infer the existence of life on an extrasolar terrestrial-type planet, and we have analyzed these features to determine the signal to noise ratio which might be obtained, assuming various proposed telescopic and interferometric instrumentation. We have constructed model spectra of the Earth in thermal infrared emission as well as in visible solar reflection, using current atmospheric constituent and temperature profiles. We have constructed similar spectra for Venus and Mars, and also for the terrestrial Neoproterozoic period when the Earth's climate oscillated between the extremes induced by an ice-covered surface and a very strong greenhouse. We acknowledge the support of the JPL and the NASA Origins Program.