Moving the Gemini planet imager to Gemini North: expectations and challenges

Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VIII

Konopacky

Rosa³

et al. 2020

Self Cite

The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) is a dedicated high-contrast imaging facility designed for the direct detection and characterization of young Jupiter mass exoplanets. After six years of operation at Gemini South, GPI has helped establish that Jovian planets are rare at wide separations, but have higher occurrence rates at small separations. This motivates an upgrade of GPI to achieve deeper contrasts, especially at small inner working angles, while leveraging its current capabilities. GPI has been funded to undergo a major science-driven upgrade as part of a relocation to Gemini North (GN). Gemini plans to remove GPI at the end of 2020A. We present the status of the proposed upgrades to GPI including a EMCCD-based pyramid wavefront sensor, broadband low spectral resolution prisms and new apodized-pupil Lyot coronagraph designs. We discuss the expected

Section: Summary Of Gpi 10mentioning

confidence: 99%

GPI 2.0: upgrading the Gemini Planet Imager

Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VIII

Konopacky

Rosa³

et al. 2020

Self Cite

“…To isolate the effects of these variables, only the subset of sequences taken in good observing conditions and with at least 1 Full Width Half Max-equivalent field rotation was used; for further description, see . This analysis and its implications for performance if GPI is moved to the Gemini North telescope are discussed in more detail in a companion paper [20].…”

Section: Performance and Correlationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Gemini Planet Imager: looking back over five years and forward to the future

Macintosh

Adaptive Optics Systems VI

Bailey

et al. 2018

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The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), a coronagraphic adaptive optics instrument designed for spectroscopy of extrasolar planets, had first light in 2013 [13]. After five years, GPI has observed more than 500 stars, producing an extensive library of science images and associated telemetry that can be analyzed to determine performance predictors. We will present a summary of on-sky performance and lessons learned. The two most significant factors determining bright star contrast performance are atmospheric coherence time and the presence of dome seeing. With a possible move to Gemini North, we are planning potential upgrades including a pyramid-sensor based AO system with predictive control; we will summarize upgrade options and the science they would enable.

“…Currently under review is the possibility of moving GPI from Gemini South to Gemini North sometime in 2019. 32,33 GPI has been in nearly continuous operation since 2013 without a significant maintenance overhaul to its internal components. Any move from Chile to Hawaii would require significant disassembly of the instrument and an inspection of its internal components to ensure the safety and reliability of the instrument as part of a move.…”

Section: Next Generation Science Goalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A faster AO system will behave as though the seeing was slower along with slower Gemini North conditions. 33…”

Section: Asteroids and Solar System Objectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Upgrading the Gemini planet imager: GPI 2.0

Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII

Bailey

Rosa

et al. 2018

Self Cite

The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) is the dedicated high-contrast imaging facility, located on Gemini South, designed for the direct detection and characterization of young Jupiter mass exoplanets. In 2019, Gemini is considering moving GPI from Gemini South to Gemini North. Analysis of GPI's as-built performance has highlighted several key areas of improvement to its detection capabilities while leveraging its current capabilities as a facility class instrument. We present the proposed upgrades which include a pyramid wavefront sensor, broadband low spectral resolution prisms and new apodized-pupil Lyot coronagraph designs all of which will enhance the current science capabilities while enabling new science programs.An active area of study for young, giant exoplanets is how the current luminosity of these young planets traces their formation mechanisms, and whether these planets can be described by a "hot start" luminosity model (likely corresponding to a disk instability formation mechanism), or the alternate "cold start" models, which is expected from cold start formation. The current GPIES survey from Gemini South is quite sensitive to hot-start giant planets between 10-100 AU, but the survey sensitivity is comparatively low to cold-start planets (Figure 1). Indeed, based on current cold-start evolutionary models 34 coupled with AMES-COND atmosphere models, 35,36