ficiency, the team recoated some key optics
and redesigned one element that was vignetting the optical path). As a result, GRACES’s efficiency is improved by an average of
roughly 20 percent towards the red part of
the spectrum. (See Figures 1 and 2.)
Small Projects Initiative
Gemini’s instrumentation Department is
also continuing with the Small Project initiative to leverage community interest and
talent in keeping our current instruments
competitive. We discussed ideas for these
projects during the Toronto users meeting
in June. A Request for Proposals will go out
later this year.
GeMS Laser Procurement
Accepted
In April, we completed a set of feasibility
studies to explore the possibility of replacing
the current Gemini Multi-congugate adaptive optics System (GeMS) laser with one we
could operate more often with reduced staff
requirements. The results of these studies,
using both internal and external resources,
were positive, and the Gemini Board agreed
at its last meeting that we should proceed
to procure a new laser. We have started the
contracting work and have made this effort a
high priority project.
July 2015
Gemini Instrument
Feasibility Study (GIFS)
Update
In April 2015, Gemini launched four independent instrument feasibility studies
to help determine requirements for
the next new Gemini instrument (also
known as Generation 4#3, or Gen4#3)
after GHOST. Each team’s study will provide Gemini with a collection of science
cases, top-level science and instrument
requirements, and corresponding feasible instrument designs.
The team’s efforts are guided by a set of
principles provided by the Science and
Technology Advisory Committee (STAC)
[viewable here] that describe very highlevel requirements for the Gen4#3 instrument. Once completed, the four studies will
aid Gemini in creating the requirements for
Gen4#3. We expect to release a Request for
Proposals to design and build the instrument in the first half of 2016.
Figure 2.
Greg Barrick
(Canada-FranceHawaii Telescope)
installing the GRACES
receiver module
in the ESPaDOnS
spectrograph,
incorporating some
of the recently
improved optics.
Each of the four feasibility study teams presented their ideas and work in progress at
the recent Toronto 2015 Future & Science
of Gemini Observatory meeting. The meeting also allowed each team to interact with
many Gemini users and included a panel
discussion that reflected on the coming
needs for Gemini’s next new instrument.
The teams will provide Gemini with draft
study reports in mid-August 2015 and present their work in person a month later. Look
for more detailed information shortly thereafter, both on the Gemini web pages (view
here) and in future editions of GeminiFocus.
The teams will submit the final reports in
mid-October.
Summaries of the four team instrument
studies follow:
GeminiFocus
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