EPICS at the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) will obtain the first direct images of rocky planets in the habitable zone of stars where liquid water could be present and search for biomarkers that could indicate the presence of life. EPICS addresses the number-one science goal for the E-ELT by answering the question: are we alone? In particular, EPICS will provide answers to questions such as: Are planetary systems like our Solar System common? How frequently do rocky planets settle in habitable zones where liquid water can be present? Do the atmospheres of exoplanets resemble those of the planets in our Solar System? How is pre-biotic material distributed in protoplanetary discs? Are there signs of life on any exoplanets?
The light-collection power and the resolution of the world’s largest optical telescope, the 39-m E-ELT, which is under construction, combined with the breakthrough EPICS instrument will be unique in its ability to study Earth-like planets around other stars where life may have formed. EPICS will push the limits of current technologies to achieve the required contrast between the star and the planet of 10-9 and beyond. New optical components and data processing approaches being developed for EPICS already enable the very best exoplanet observations with current telescopes and had a major impact in other fields such as air pollution measurements and biomedical imaging.
EPICS instrumentation research and technology developments will continue until 2024. First science observations will occur around 2029.