JWST White Papers

In the course of working on the development of JWST, the Science Working Group and other scientists working on Webb have written a variety of white papers describing science programs that might be accomplished with Webb. Several of these are listed below. Astronomers interested in learning more about Webb will find these papers a good place to start.

These white papers reflect the thoughts and advice of the Science Working Group (SWG) and other project scientists on what capabilities to build into the JWST system. They do not imply what science must be carried out with JWST, since nearly all of the observing time on Webb will be subject to open competitions. There are, of course, many other discussions of potential Webb science in the refereed literature.

Author	Title
Beichman et al. 2014	Observations of Transiting Exoplanets with JWST
Norwood et al. 2014	Solar System Observations with JWST
Batalha et al. 2013	Transiting Exoplanet Simulations with the James Webb Space Telescope
Kalirai 2012	Frontier Science Opportunities with JWST
Hammel et al. 2010	Scientific Role of the James Webb Space Telescope in New Worlds, New Horizons
Lunine et al. 2010	JWST Planetary Observations within the Solar System (This paper is superseded by Norwood et al. 2014)
Gardner et el. 2010	James Webb Space Telescope Studies of Dark Energy
Clampin et al. 2009	Comparative Planetology: Transiting Exoplanet Science with JWST
Sonneborn et al. 2009	JWST Study of Planetary Systems and Solar System Objects
Meixner et al. 2009	Stellar Populations with JWST: the Beginning and the End
Windhorst et al. 2009	Galaxies Across Cosmic Time with JWST
Stiavelli et al. 2009	First Light and Reionization: Open Questions in the post-JWST Era
Gardner et al. 2009	The Scientific Capabilities of JWST
Brown et al. 2008	Studying Resolved Stellar Populations with JWST
Stiavelli et al. 2007	A strategy to study First Light with JWST
Clampin et al. 2007	Coronagraphic Detection of Exosolar Planets with the James Webb Space Telescope
Clampin et al. 2007	Detection of Planetary Transits with the James Webb Space Telescope
Gardner et al. 2006	The James Webb Space Telescope - A detailed discussion of the science and mission concept for Webb
Calzetti et al 2005	Added JWST Science Cases for the Timeframe 2012-2015 - A collection of potential JWST observations developed to supplement the primary science themes of JWST
Seager et al. 2004	A report to NASA recommending addition or optimization of the James Webb Space Telescope capabilities to maximize astrobiology science return.

JWST Flyers

JWST Science Corner

Scientists are already thinking of how JWST can revolutionize their fields of study. Learn more about the instruments and their sensitivities at the links below, and try your hand at some sample JWST observations by using our prototype exposure time calculator.

Submit a Paper

On this page, we are collecting input related to the growing scientific case for JWST, as referenced in peer-review journals or conference proceedings. If you have recently submitted or published a research paper that discussed JWST’s future role for the respective science case, please consider submitting this information to STScI. This information will be released to the community in the form of electronic newsletters and at the AAS meeting. You can also see it listed under 'Recent JWST Science Highlights' on this page.

Submit information to the JWST Science Corner

Recent JWST Science Highlights

Latest JWST Newsletter Articles

[ 2015 ] VOL [ 32 ] ISSUE [ 01 ] [ ARCHIVE ]
Webb Status

There were no lazy days of summer for the scientists and engineers working on the James Webb Space Telescope! Rather, summertime saw flurries of activity on many different mission fronts. (R. Osten)

The Single-Object Slitless Spectroscopy Mode of Webb’s NIRISS Instrument

The James Webb Space Telescope’s Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph will offer a number of innovative observing modes, including single-object slitless spectroscopy. This mode is optimized for spectroscopy of transiting exoplanet systems around nearby (and thus often bright) stars. (P. Goudfrooij, L. Albert, & R. Doyon)

Webb Sunshield Unfolds

One of the most visually striking subsystems of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is its stunning sunshield. Separating the observatory into a warm, sun-facing side and a cold, anti-sun side, a full-scale mockup of the sunshield subsystem has undergone a deployment test. (A. Conti)

Exoplanet Investigations with Webb

Characterizing planets orbiting stars beyond the sun—exoplanets—is one of the scientific frontiers pioneered using Hubble observations. When Webb becomes operational, the current Hubble results will be expanded to an astonishing degree. Webb’s sensitivity in the infrared, and especially its infrared spectroscopic capability, will be a boon to exoplanetary science. While we await Webb, exoplanetary astronomers are using Hubble with increasing success and impact. (D. Deming & H. Knutson)

The Births of Supermassive Black Holes

Many questions exist regarding the births of supermassive black holes. Numerical simulations are under development to answer some these questions, but others may need to wait for the next generation of near-infrared telescopes. Webb and WFIRST may soon detect the births of supermassive black holes, and in some cases the most powerful explosions in the universe that herald them. (D. Whalen et al.)

The 2014 STScI Calibration Workshop

The Calibration Workshop focused on Hubble's current complement of instruments, but devoted part of its time to Webb, since Hubble provides many lessons learned, with many directly applicable solutions to problems that Webb will encounter. Beyond Hubble and Webb, the calibration of astronomical instruments and observatories is a rapidly developing field; the workshop also addressed topics that apply broadly to astronomical calibration in general. (D. Hines & R. Auer)

James Webb Space Telescope

Introduction