1. C. Executive Summary Phil Hinz Principal Investigator

2. Overall Compliance and Readiness C-2 0.The ORR performance requirements [12 zodi, 0.4 mJy, and 35 in-guide stars] are sufficient to meet the PLRA science objectives [inform future mission design and sensitivity >10  higher than state of the art] Green 1.a LBTI demonstrates 12-zodi sensitivity (1 , single star measurement, PLRA zodi model) Green 1.bIn-guide plan (available nights) and assumptions (efficiencies and current capability) for SVP and HOSTS are documented and the science scope (<2 zodi uncertainty on median) are all consistent Green 1.cCredible plans* documented to meet PLRA threshold performance requirements (6 zodi, 0.3 mJy) by end of science validation phase with risk that is medium or lower Green 2.LBTI science data management planning and procedures meet all PLRA requirements Green 3.The necessary interferometer operations plans and procedures are complete, documented and in place, and under configuration management Green 4.The necessary pipeline processing algorithms, plans and procedures are complete, documented and in place, and under configuration management Green 5.The necessary staffing is in place and training has taken place Green 6.Project risks are documented and acceptable Green 7.During SVP, UA is ready to assume responsibility for LBTI operations and data delivery; and NExScI is ready to assume responsibility for archive Green

3. Overall ORR Compliance This presentation discusses the overall case for LBTI being ready to begin the HOSTS survey Relationship to ORR Success Criteria: Describes how the LBTI project satisfies the ORR performance requirements (item 1) C-3 1.a LBTI demonstrates 12-zodi sensitivity (1 , single star measurement, PLRA zodi model) Green 1.bIn-guide plan (available nights) and assumptions (efficiencies and current capability) for SVP and HOSTS are documented and the science scope (<2 zodi uncertainty on median) are all consistent Green 1.cCredible plans* documented to meet PLRA threshold performance requirements (6 zodi, 0.3 mJy) by end of science validation phase with risk that is medium or lower Green

4. LBTI Mission Success Criteria Provide measurements of exozodi levels around nearby main sequence stars with sensitivity at least an order of magnitude higher than the current state of the art Provide measurements necessary to inform the design of a future NASA space mission to directly image and characterize exo-Earths around nearby main sequence stars. C-4

5. Observational Flow C-5 Calibrated Null 0 n = 0.6  0.05% LBTI fringe pattern (baseline, λ, HA) z = 90  8 zodi Zodi model (MIR brightness) *

6. What Is 12-Zodi Sensitivity? The PLRA defines the sensitivity with respect to a solar twin at 10 pc – 1 zodi = 50 ppm at 11.1 µm wavelength (luminosity-dependent) – Transmission of dust for LBTI baseline is 65% for this setup – A solar twin at 10 pc is 2 Jy Typical numbers used: 12 zodi = 400 ppm = 0.8 mJy C-6

7. “Sensitivity >10  State of the Art” Performance is currently 10–12  improved over KIN Nulling self-calibration provides much of this improvement C-7 KIN (140 zodi, 1  ) Threshold (6 zodi, 1  ) LBTI ORR (12 zodi) Adapted from Roberge et al. 2012

8. Comparing KIN and LBTI Limits KIN (8.5 µm)LBTI (11.1 µm) R1 Null uncertainty (ppm)2000400 R2 1-zodi flux (ppm)2950 R3 Interf. transmission0.50.65 Zodi Limit (R1/R2/R3)13812 C-8

9. “Provide Measurements to Inform Future Missions” C-9 Commissioning tests on the star β Leo detected a disk at the level of 6000 ±500 ppm This corresponds to a disk that is 90 ±8 zodi Commissioning tests on the star Eta Crv detected a bright disk (Defrere et al. 2015) Modeling indicates dust is at <1 AU LBTI’s ability to inform future missions will be discussed quantitatively by B. Mennesson

10. ORR Success Criteria Demonstrate 12-zodi sensitivity In-guide plan and assumptions for HOSTS are all consistent with the science scope Credible plans documented to meet the threshold requirements by the end of science validation C-10

11. “Demonstrate 12-Zodi Sensitivity” Commissioning tests carried out in February 2015 demonstrated the ability to achieve a null uncertainty of 400 ppm C-11 Data analysis supports achieving a null uncertainty of 400 ppm in 3.5 hours Observing sequence for β Leo demonstrates uncertainty of 500 ppm on science object

12. “HOSTS Plan Is Consistent with Science Scope” (1/2) C-12 Typical Zodi Measurement Uncertainty per Star (1  ) Uses star-dependent null uncertainty, including –Null floor = 350 ppm (irreducible, 400 ppm for 7 Jy star) –Photometric null error Uses best 32 stars from the HOSTS target list –Mean uncertainty is 10.3 zodi Number Stars Observed

13. “HOSTS Plan Is Consistent with Science Scope” (2/2) The science team has – Published the final target list (Weinberger et al. 2015) – Published the impact of the instrument parameters on the observational analysis (Kennedy et al. 2015) – Analyzed the impact of the survey on mission planning constraints (Mennesson, internal; also in Weinberger et al.) The Science Operations Plan details how the HOSTS survey will be carried out C-13

14. “Credible Plans to Meet Threshold” (1/2) During LBTI commissioning over the past year we have – Demonstrated routine AO operation with both apertures – Implemented phase stabilization – Reduced vibration inputs by nearly 3  – Demonstrated accelerometer feed-forward improvements – Integrated auxiliary telemetry to improve the null stability – Demonstrated data acquisition suitable for nulling self- calibration These implementations are sufficiently new that we can expect to continue to improve the performance of the system as we become more familiar with it C-14

15. “Credible Plans to Meet Threshold” (2/2) Specific tasks planned focus on four areas: – PWV mitigation – Vibration mitigation – Improved data acquisition approaches – Improved photometric sensitivity C-15

16. Compliance Matrix PLRA Section Success Criteria March 2014 Now (ORR) End of SVP In-Guide Plan (FY17) With Lien (FY18) L04.3 A: 10  better 2.8  better12  better24  better L04.3B: Inform missions 6 zodi median 1.13 zodi median 0.51 zodi median 0.50 zodi median L14.1.2C: 6 zodi, 1 σ 54 zodi12 zodi6 zodi L14.1.4D: 50 stars in 4 yrs 13183550 L24.1.4E: 0.3 mJy sens. 0.4 mJy 0.3 mJy L24.1.4 F: 1.5  10 -4 null stb 1800 ppm400 ppm150 ppm L24.1.4G: 30% efficiency 30%32%40% C-16 Red = not compliant Blue = compliant, assuming in-guide completion Orange = compliant with ORR criteria, but not PLRA Green = compliant with PLRA