Update on FLAMINGOS-2
As reported in the October 2014 issue of
GeminiFocus, FLAMINGOS-2 is back on sky
with image quality now good over the entire
6-arcminute field-of-view. The instrument
remains in imaging- and long-slit modes
only, pending commissioning of the Multiple Object Spectrograph mode, which may
become possible in 2015. Spectroscopic resolution is quite close to the original specifications, but optical modeling has been done
to see whether it can be improved. Considering this, we now believe that FLAMINGOS-2
spectroscopy has reached its full potential.
The problem with high background reported in October will be addressed during a
short shutdown in February 2015, see Figures 1 and 2.
GPI Campaign Commencement
With the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) now entering regular operations, the GPI Exoplanet
Campaign has officially kicked off. With a
total allocation of about 890 hours, the campaign is expected to take at least three years
to complete. The Campaign is using GPI to
produce the first-ever census
of giant planet populations
between 5 and 50 astronomical units from their host stars,
allowing us to better understand the formation of Jovian
planets, and how they migrate
to-and-fro within their parent
solar systems. It will also help
unmask how they interact with
disks and belts of debris. Finally, the results of the Campaign
should bridge the gap be-
Figure 1.
The FLAMINGOS-2
gate valve mechanism,
situated in the tunnel
between the two halves
of the cryostat. The front,
temperature-cyclable
part houses the MOS
wheel, and the rear
includes the camera
optics and detector.
Figure 2.
The effect of the gate
valve baffle not going
into place properly.
Radiation from the
warm gate valve
mechanism is “seen” in
the rear cryostat. The
figure shows the HK
spectral range, the setup
most affected by the
fault. We will address
this in an engineering
period for FLAMINGOS-2
in February.
January 2015
GeminiFocus
13