Douglas A. Simons

The Mauna Kea Observatories Near‐Infrared Filter Set. II. Specifications for a New JHKL′ M′ Filter Set for Infrared Astronomy

We present a description of a new 1-5 mm filter set similar to the long-used JHKLM filter set derived from that of Johnson. The new Mauna Kea Observatories Near-Infrared filter set is designed to reduce background noise, improve photometric transformations from observatory to observatory, provide greater accuracy in extrapolating to zero air mass, and reduce the color dependence in the extinction coefficient in photometric reductions. We have also taken into account the requirements of adaptive optics in setting the flatness specification of the filters. A complete technical description is presented to facilitate the production of similar filters in the future.

The Gemini Near‐Infrared Imager (NIRI)

ABSTRACT This paper presents the basic design of the Gemini Near‐Infrared Imager (NIRI) and discusses its capabilities. NIRI offers three different pixel scales to match different operating modes of the Gemini telescope and allows polarimetric and spectroscopic observations. It is equipped with an infrared on‐instrument wave‐front sensor (OIWFS) to allow tip‐tilt and focus correction even in highly obscured regions. The science detector array is an Aladdin II InSb \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape

The Mauna Kea Observatories Near-Infrared Filter Set. I. Defining Optimal 1-5 Micron Bandpasses

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Gemini-north multiobject spectrograph integration, test, and commissioning

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GeMS: first on-sky results

A new Mauna Kea Observatories near-infrared (MKO-NIR) filter set is described, including techniques and considerations given to designing a new set of bandpasses that are useful at both mid- and high- altitude sites. These filters offer improved photometric linearity and in many cases reduced background, as well as preserving good throughput within the JHKLM atmospheric windows. MKO-NIR filters have already been deployed within a number of instruments around the world as part of a filter consortium purchase to reduce the unit cost of filters. Through this effort we hope to establish, for the first time, a single standard set of infrared filters at as many observatories as possible.

Infrared emission regions in the interacting galaxy system ARP 299

The first of two Gemini Multi Object Spectrographs (GMOS) has recently begun operation at the Gemini-North 8m telescope. In this presentation we give an overview of the instrument and describe the overall performance of GMOS-North both in the laboratory during integration, and at the telescope during commissioning. We describe the development process which led to meeting the demanding reliability and performance requirements on flexure, throughput and image quality. We then show examples of GMOS data and performance on the telescope in its imaging, long-slit and MOS modes. We also briefly highlight novel features in GMOS that are described in more detail in separate presentations, particularly the flexure compensation system and the on-instrument wavefront sensor. Finally we give an update of the current status of GMOS on Gemini-North and future plans.

Coordination and use of laser beacons for adaptive optics on Mauna Kea

GeMS, the Gemini Laser Guide Star Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics facility system, has seen first light in December 2011, and has already produced images with H band Strehl ratio in excess of 35% over fields of view of 85x85 arcsec, fulfilling the MCAO promise. In this paper, we report on these early results, analyze trends in performance, and concentrate on key or novel aspects of the system, like centroid gain estimation, on-sky non common path aberration estimation. We also present the first astrometric analysis, showing very encouraging results.

Gemini telescopes instrumentation program

Infrared imagery and photometry of the interacting galaxy system Arp 299 are presented. In the central region of NGC 3690 there are two 2.2 micron sources; one of these (component B2) coincides with the apparent visible nucleus, while the other (component B1) coincides with the 6 cm and 10 micron sources. No evidence at 2.2 micron is seen for a compact AGN in IC 694 (component A). Approximately 75 percent of the 12-25 micron power from Arp 299 comes from three regions each smaller than 600 pc in diameter centered on components A, B1, and C, making the distribution of mid-infrared emission more concentrated than the distribution of starlight.

High-resolution infrared mapping of the Galactic center - Imaging and lunar occultations

The Mauna Kea Laser Guide Star Technical Working Group was established to address related to the coordination and use of laser beacons for adaptive optics at the astronomical observatories located on the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. This paper describes the issues that are being addressed by the group and the policies that have been adopted for Mauna Kea.

Gemini instrumentation program overview

The Gemini Telescopes are being built to exploit the unique infrared sites of Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Cerro Pachon in Chile. Both telescopes are being designed to deliver 0.1 arcsec images at the focal plane at 2.2 micrometers which will include all tracking and enclosure affects. Beyond 2 micrometers , using fast tip/tilt secondaries these 8 m telescopes will be essentially diffraction limited. In addition the use of protected silver coatings for both the primary and secondary mirrors and efficient in-situ mirror cleaning means the Mauna Kea telescope should be capable of delivering focal plane emissivities of approximately 2%. The baseline design for the Mauna Kea telescope also includes an adaptive optics system capable of feeding a 1 - 2 arcminute corrected field to near infrared instruments mounted at the f/16 Cassegrain focus. Fully exploiting the superb characteristics of the Gemini Telescopes will require a new generation of instruments which will challenge both instrument designers and infrared array technologies. The baseline complement of infrared instruments includes a 1 - 5 micrometers imager, a 1 - 5 micrometers spectrometer, and a mid-infrared (8 - 25 micrometers ) imager. Several optical instruments will also be built under the baseline instrumentation plan.