We are currently ordering additional detectors for GMOS-N and expect installation into
the instrument during 2015. Compared to
the relatively recently installed e2v Deep
Depletion CCDs in GMOS-N, we expect to
get improved sensitivity in the red, specifically ~30 percent improvement at 900 nm
and ~2x greater sensitivity longward of 950
nm (according to the reported QE values).
(See Figure 4.)
The Gemini Planet Imager
Figure 5.
The Gemini Planet
Imager being tested
on the flexure rig
at the University of
California Santa Cruz.
The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) project — a
revolutionary instrument in the field of exoplanet research — saw final testing, shipment to Gemini South, integration, the start
of commissioning, and official first light all in
2013 (see the story starting on page 8 featuring the GPI first light press release).
Early in 2013, GPI was turned almost upside
down and frozen down below 0° Centigrade.
First, GPI was mounted on the flexure rig,
then tilted and hung vertically, to simulate
the effects of gravity on the instrument,
which changes when the telescope points
to different parts of the sky (figure 5). Next,
GPI went into a cold room and was exposed
to the large range of temperatures that will
occur at Gemini South.
While being tilted at varying angles and
subjected to freezing temperatures, the
team took GPI through a large set of tests
and demonstrated to micrometer precision
that it was able to maintain its extremely
high contrast performance. As expected, GPI
passed these rigorous exams, resulting in
successful pre-ship acceptance tests and the
OK to ship to Gemini South.
GPI was transported to Chile in August, and
unpacked on August 26th at Cerro Pachón. It
then went through another subset of these
rigorous tests to assure that shipping the instrument several thousand kilometers didn’t
cause any ill effects. Next, GPI was mounted
onto the telescope at the beginning of the
fourth quarter of 2013. The instrument’s
much awaited first light for engineering and
testing followed on the night of November 11-12, which revealed the instrument’s
amazing capabilities (see article on GPI first
light also in this issue). On-sky observations
are currently ongoing for technical integration with the Gemini South telescope. Commissioning and System Verification activities
occupied GPI for the rest of the year.
GRACES
Work on the Gemini Remote Access to the
Canada-France-Hawaii ESPaDOnS Spectrograph (GRACES) project is proceeding substantially on course. GRACES is tentatively
scheduled for commissioning in 2014. A call
for SV proposals will be made once commissioning on Gemini is completed.
52
GeminiFocus 2013 Year in Review
January2014