Dans l'état actuel des techniques de détection des exoplanètes, aucune planète tellurique du Système Solaire ne pourrait être détectée et pourtant leur présence est une contrainte très forte sur les scénarios de formation des systèmes planétaires. L'astrométrie, en mesurant l'effet reflex des planètes sur leur étoile centrale, permet de remonter à la masse des planètes et aux paramètres orbitaux. C'est une technique très utilisée pour la détermination des masses et des orbites des étoiles binaires et couronnée de succès. Il est nécessaire d'aller dans l'espace pour atteindre les précisions nécessaires pour détecter toutes les planètes jusqu'aux masses telluriques. Le Laboratoire est engagé dans un projet qui a été proposé à l'ESA dans le cadre de l'appel à mission M3 de Cosmic Vision et qui a pour objectif de recenser toutes les planètes de notre voisinage solaire. Le principe est d'utiliser l'astrométrie différentielle pour compléter les mesures obtenues par les autres techniques afin de descendre le seuil de détection et de caractérisation au niveau de la masse terrestre dans la zone habitable de chaque système. Nous voulons explorer de façon exhaustive toutes les étoiles de type solaire (type spectral FGK) jusqu'à 20pc de notre Soleil. Le concept du satellite repose en l'état actuel de l'étude sur du vol en formation avec un satellite portant le miroir et un satellite portant le plan focal. La mesure est faite par une métrologie à base interférométrique.Le sujet de la thèse consiste à avancer d'une part sur la définition du cas scientifique et d'autre part sur la spécification de l'instrument et des procédures d'observation. En ce qui concerne le cas scientifique, il s'agit d'établir une stratégie d'observation optimale pour recenser et caractériser de manière exhaustive tous les systèmes planétaires de notre voisinage. A l'aide de simulations numériques, l'étudiant pourra établir une stratégie de réduction des données permettant de remonter aux paramètres des orbites planétaires. Il s'agira aussi de participer à l'établissement du budget d'erreur de l'instrument et à la définition des modes d'observation. L'étudiant sera aussi mené à mettre en œuvre des tests de performance de la mesure dans le cadre d'une étude expérimentale. Cette thèse se déroulera dans le cadre de la collaboration européenne sur le sujet et des contacts seront aussi tissés avec nos collègues du JPL qui maitrisent la métrologie. / With the present state of exoplanet detection techniques, none of the rocky planets of the Solar System would be detected and indeed their presence is a very strong constraint on the scenarios of the formation of planetary systems. Astrometry by measuring the reflex effect of planets on their central host stars, lead us to the mass of planets and to their orbit determination. This technique is used frequently and is very successful to determine the masses and the orbits of binary stars. However it is necessary to go to space to reach the precision required to detect all planets down to the telluric regime.We are proposing a mission to ESA in the framework of the call for M3 mission in the Cosmic Vision plan whose objective is to make a full census of all exoplanets in our Solar neighborhood. The objectif is to use differential astrometry to complete the measurements obtained by other techniques in order to lower the threshold of detection and characterization to the level of an Earth mass in the habitable zone of each system. We want to explore in an exhaustive manner all solar-type stars (FGK spectral type) up to 20pc from the Sun. The satellite concept is based on formation flying technology with a satellite carrying a single primary mirror and another satellite carrying the focal plane. The measure is done using laser metrology using interferometry.The topic of the thesis consists in making progress on the definition of the science case and on the specification of the instrument and the observing procedures. Concerning the science case, an optimized observing strategy has to be defined to exhaustively detect and characterize all planetary systems in the solar neighborhood. Using numerical simulations, the student will establish a strategy for data reduction that allows him to fit all orbital parameters of the systems. A participation to the computation of error budget of the instrument and to the definition of observing modes is expected too. The candidate can also carry out performance tests using existing testbeds or developing new ones. This thesis will take place in the framework of the European collaboration on this topic and contacts will be made with our JPL colleagues who master the metrology technique.

In this paper, we report a new estimate of the absolute proper motion (PM) of the globular cluster NGC 5139 (omega Cen) as part of the HST large program GO-14118+ 14662. We analyzed a field 17 arcmin southwest of the center of omega Cen and computed PMs with epoch spans of similar to 15.1 years. We employed 45 background galaxies to link our relative PMs to an absolute reference-frame system. The absolute PM of the cluster in our field is (mu(alpha) cos delta, mu(delta))=(-3.341. 0.028, -6.557 +/- 0.043) mas yr(-1). Upon correction for the effects of viewing perspective and the known cluster rotation, this implies that for the cluster center of mass (mu(alpha) cos delta, mu(delta))=(-3.238. 0.028, -6.716 +/- 0.043) mas yr(-1). This measurement is direct and independent, has the highest random and systematic accuracy to date, and will provide an external verification for the upcoming Gaia Data Release 2. It also differs from most reported PMs for omega Cen in the literature by more than 5 sigma, but consistency checks compared to other recent catalogs yield excellent agreement. We computed the corresponding Galactocentric velocity, calculated the implied orbit of omega Cen in two different Galactic potentials, and compared these orbits to the orbits implied by one of the PM measurements available in the literature. We find a larger (by about 500 pc) perigalactic distance for omega Cen with our new PM measurement, suggesting a larger survival expectancy for the cluster in the Galaxy.

Measuring masses of long-period planets around F, G, and K stars is necessary to characterize exoplanets and assess their habitability. Imaging stellar astrometry offers a unique opportunity to solve radial velocity system inclination ambiguity and determine exoplanet masses. The main limiting factor in sparse-field astrometry, besides photon noise, is the non-systematic dynamic distortions that arise from perturbations in the optical train. Even space optics suffer from dynamic distortions in the optical system at the sub-mu as level. To overcome this limitation we propose a diffractive pupil that uses an array of dots on the primary mirror creating polychromatic diffraction spikes in the focal plane, which are used to calibrate the distortions in the optical system. By combining this technology with a high-performance coronagraph, measurements of planetary systems orbits and masses can be obtained faster and more accurately than by applying traditional techniques separately. In this paper, we present the results of the combined astrometry and and high-contrast imaging experiments performed at NASA Ames Research Center as part of a Technology Development for Exoplanet Missions program. We demonstrated 2.38x10(-5) lambda/D astrometric accuracy per axis and 1.72x10(-7) raw contrast from 1.6 to 4.5 lambda/D. In addition, using a simple average subtraction post-processing we demonstrated no contamination of the coronagraph field down to 4.79x10(-9) raw contrast.

We present evidence that the recently discovered, directly imaged planet HD 131399 Ab is a background star with nonzero proper motion. From new JHK1L' photometry and spectroscopy obtained with the Gemini Planet Imager, VLT/SPHERE, and Keck/NIRC2, and a reanalysis of the discovery data obtained with VLT/SPHERE, we derive colors, spectra, and astrometry for HD 131399 Ab. The broader wavelength coverage and higher data quality allow us to reinvestigate its status. Its near-infrared spectral energy distribution excludes spectral types later than L0 and is consistent with a K or M dwarf, which are the most likely candidates for a background object in this direction at the apparent magnitude observed. If it were a physically associated object, the projected velocity of HD 131399 Ab would exceed escape velocity given the mass and distance to HD 131399 A. We show that HD 131399 Ab is also not following the expected track for a stationary background star at infinite distance. Solving for the proper motion and parallax required to explain the relative motion of HD 131399 Ab, we find a proper motion of 12.3 mas yr(-1). When compared to predicted background objects drawn from a galactic model, we find this proper motion to be high but consistent with the top 4% fastest-moving background stars. From our analysis, we conclude that HD 131399 Ab is a background K or M dwarf.

Les Noyaux Actifs de Galaxies (AGN) se situent au centre de galaxies extrêmement lointainesdont la luminosité provient de l’interaction d’un trou noir central supermassif et d’undisque d’accrétion. Il en résulte l’éjection à des vitesses relativistes de jets de matière collimatés.L’interférométrie à très longue base (VLBI) permet, grâce aux très grandes résolutionsatteintes, d’observer finement la structure de ces jets et de déterminer très précisément laposition astrométrique des objets. En raison de leur distance, les AGN ne présentent pas demouvements propres, ce qui les rend idéaux pour la construction de systèmes de référenceultra-précis et très stables.Des instabilités en position de quelques centaines de microsecondes d’arc, généralementimputées aux variations de la structure des jets, sont toutefois souvent observées sur des échellesde temps de quelques mois à quelques années. Le travail présenté ici étudie le lien entre les deuxphénomènes de façon statistique. Sur la base d’observations VLBI régulières conduites entre1994 et 2003, nous comparons l’évolution de la position astrométrique et de la structure des jetspour un échantillon de 68 AGN sur une période de 10 ans. Les résultats de l’étude indiquent quela corrélation entre les deux phénomènes existe mais n’est pas aussi forte qu’attendue. Le travailest complété par une simulation des effets causés sur la trajectoire des jets par la précessiondu disque d’accrétion ainsi que par la présence d’un système binaire de trous noirs. Appliquéeau cas de la source 1308+326, l’étude montre que l’amplitude de ces effets est compatible avecles oscillations de la trajectoire observées en VLBI. / Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are located in the center of extremely distant and bright galaxies. Their luminosity comes from the interaction between a super-massive central blackhole and an accretion disk, producing a relativistic collimated jet of matter. Thanks to the extremely high resolution achieved by Very Long Base line Interferometry (VLBI), the jet structure may be studied in detail, while the astrometric position of the AGN is determined with ahigh accuracy. Because of their location at cosmological distances, no proper motions are detected for those objects, making them ideal fiducial points for building highly-precise celestial reference frames.Instabilities up to a few hundreds of micro arc seconds are yet often observed in astrometricpositions on time scales from months to years. This is generally thought to be caused by theevolution of source structure. The study presented here investigates the correlation between the two phenomena on a statistical basis. Based on regular VLBI observations conducted between1994 and 2003, astrometric position variations and source structure evolution are compared fora sample of 68 AGN over a period of 10 years. The results indicate that a correlation between the two phenomena does exist but it is not as strong as expected. Additionally, a simulation of the effects caused by the precession of the accretion disc and the potential presence of abinary black hole in the center of the AGN is presented. Applied to the source 1308+326, the simulation shows that the magnitude of the effects is consistent with the oscillations of the jet trajectory observed on VLBI scale.

ELTs equipped with MCAO systems will be powerful astrometric tools in the next two decades. With sparse-field precisions exceeding 30 uas for V > 18, the ELTs will surpass even GAIA's per-epoch precision for faint stars (V > 12). We present results from an ongoing astrometry program with Gemini GeMS and discuss synergies with WFIRST and GAIA. First, we present a fit to the relative orbit of the individual L/T components of Luhman16 AB, the nearest brown dwarf binary known. Exploiting GeMS' wide field of view to image reference stars, we are able to track the relative motion to better than 0.2 mas. We find that a mutual Keplerian orbit with no perturbing planets fits the binary separation to within the measurement errors, ruling out companions down to 14 earth masses for certain orbits and periods.

We report on recent advancement in the theory of light propagation in the Solar System aiming at sub-micro-arcsecond level of accuracy: (1) A solution for the light ray in 1.5PN approximation has been obtained in the field of N arbitrarily moving bodies of arbitrary shape, inner structure, oscillations, and rotational motion. (2) A solution for the light ray in 2PN approximation has been obtained in the field of one arbitrarily moving pointlike body.

Comparison of the Gaia DR1 auxiliary quasar solution to recent ground based VLBI solutions for ICRF2 sources.

The resident space object population in the near-Earth vicinity has steadily increased since the dawn of the space age. This population is expected to increase drastically in the near future as the realization of proposed mega-constellations is already underway. The resultant congestion in near-Earth space necessitates the availability of more complete and more accurate satellite tracking information to ensure the continued sustainable use of this environment. This work sets out to create an operational system for the delivery of accurate satellite tracking information by means of optical observation. The state estimates resulting from observation series conducted on a GPS satellite and a geostationary satellite are presented and compared to existing catalog information. The satellite state estimate produced by the system is shown to outperform existing two-line element results. Additionally, the statistical information provided by the processing pipeline is evaluated and found to be representative of the best information available for the satellites true state.

The present International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF), the ICRF-3 is based on a catalogue of 4536 quasar positions obtained from Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) radio measurements. This radio frame is crucial for many applications, from measurements of Earth’s orientation in space to spacecraft navigation and measurements of sea-level rise. However, the deficit in ICRF source density in the South and lack of dedicated imaging campaigns in the South, to monitor structural changes, remain a big concern. These ICRF sources can exhibit spatially extended emission structures that can have a significant effect on astrometric VLBI measurements. The Celestial Reference Frame Deep South (CRDS) is a dedicated astrometric VLBI programme to observe Southern ICRF sources on a regular basis. In an effort to improve the situation in the South, these CRDS sessions have recently been optimized for VLBI imaging. In this thesis, I present VLBI images and source structure analysis results for southern ICRF sources observed in four of these CRDS sessions. For some of these sources, I present the very first high-resolution radio images. I also present results from source structure analysis and a corresponding assessment of astrometric quality, and I also present results from efforts to increase the ICRF source density in the South. / Mathematical Sciences / Ph. D. (Astronomy)