Peeking under the clouds: Is exoplanet imaging with the solar gravitational lens feasible?

Abstract

Exoplanet imaging using the solar gravitational lens is an enticing prospect. The fundamental physical properties of the lens, including its angular resolution and light amplification, promise exceptional capabilities. These expectations, however, are tempered by the realization of numerous challenges, including imperfections of the lens itself, noise sources, the properties of the imaging target and difficult technical issues. We discuss, in particular, a subject not previously addressed, the impact of temporally varying surface features, notably a variable cloud cover, obscuring the target exoplanet. This has a substantial detrimental effect on image recovery, leading to our cautious assessment of the practical feasibility of using the Sun's gravitational field as an effective telescope.