Tracing life through light: towards detecting life on exoplanets with spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry

Mulder, W. (2026)

Doctoral Thesis

How did we come into existence? Are we alone? These questions have driven humans for centuries. This work is part of our quest for exploring methods and building instruments to find life beyond our Earth; through spectrocopy and spectropolarimetry.

• Spectroscopy
• Spectropolarimetry
• Polarimetry
• Polarisation
• Homochirality
• Instrumentation
• Diffraction effects

• All authors: Mulder, W.
• Supervisor: Snellen, I.A.G.; Keller, C.U.
• Co-supervisor: Snik, F.
• Committee: Exter, M.P. van; Vidotto, A.; Marel, N. van der; Sparks, W.; Demory, B.O.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Leiden Observatory, Faculty of Science, Leiden University
• Date: 2026-04-02
• ISBN (print): 9789464965100
• DOI: doi:10.60602/1887-4300414