"Extrasolar Giant Planets direct detection: current capabilities and developments"

Abstract:
High contrast imaging techniques enable to separate the flux of an exoplanet from the star 
halo. This approach is very complementary to other approaches: its own and distinct 
detection biases open the detection window to new classes of planetary systems and the 
resulting signal provides complementary astrophysical information on the detected planets, 
up to, ultimately, the physical and chemical characterization of planetary atmosphere.

The performance of high contrast imaging techniques have impressively improved in the recent 
years. Current capabilities have made possible the first direct detections of planetary mass 
companions and motivated large scale observing programs. The current development of next
generation instruments will offer the capability to detect EGP around hundreds of targets, 
around 2010.  Such comprehensive studies will complement our knowledge of planetary system 
statistical properties; they will in particular strongly improve our understanding of the
formation and evolution of planetary objects, their relation to disks and the comparison to 
Brown Dwarfs companions. They will also provide direct information for the characterization 
of the EGP's physical properties.

Finally, the current developments can also be analyzed in the perspective of future 
projects, both on the astrophysical and instrumental points of view.