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GPI

Gemini SouthNear-IR
Last Modified: 
Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 14:29

GPI is an extreme adaptive-optics imaging polarimeter/integral-field spectrometer, which will provide diffraction-limited data between 0.9 and 2.4 microns. The system will provide contrast ratios of 106 on companions at separations of 0.2-1" in a 1-2 hour observation. The science instrument will provide spectroscopy or dual-beam polarimetry of any object in the field of view. Bright natural guide stars (Imag<9) are required for optimal performance of the GPI adaptive optics system. GPI is capable of detecting point sources down to Hmag = 20, with ≥ 5-sigma, in 1 hour (absent photon noise from a bright companion).

Unavailable For Proposals at Gemini South
For more details, see the schedules and the CfPs.

Not offered until further notice.

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Current Instruments

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  • GPI
    • Capability
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Pages

  • Capability
  • Components
  • Proposal preparation
  • Calibrations
  • Observation preparation
  • Exposure Time Estimation
  • Data reduction
  • Documents

Capability Summary

  • Extreme adaptive-optics (AO) 
  • Contrast ratios of 106 (at separations of 0.2–1", in 1-hour)
  • Total wavelength range = 0.9−2.4 µm

Plane options

  • Coronagraphy (APLC)
  • Direct (no APLC)
  • Non Redundant Mask (NRM)

Modes

  • Spectroscopy 
    • IFU (R ≈ 40)
    • 2.4" square field of view
    • 0.014" per lenslet spatial sampling
    • YJHK spectral ranges (K band is split)
  • Polarimetry
    • Dual channel polarimeter (full field) 
    • bands (Y, J, H, K1 or K2).

Get the contrast
 

GPI has been built by a consortium of U.S. and Canadian institutions, funded by the Gemini Observatory, which is an international partnership comprising the U.S.A., U.K., Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil & Chile. The GPIES campaign is partially funded by NSF, NASA, the University of California and the Laboratory Directed Research and Development funding at the Lawrence LIvermore National Laboratory.

Instrument Team

Instrument Scientist

Fredrik Rantakyrö

Gemini Observatory Participants

The Gemini Observatory provides the astronomical communities in six participant countries with state-of-the-art astronomical facilities that allocate observing time in proportion to each country's contribution. In addition to financial support, each country also contributes significant scientific and technical resources. The national research agencies that form the Gemini partnership include: the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Canadian National Research Council (NRC), the Chilean Comisión Nacional de Investigación Cientifica y Tecnológica (CONICYT), the Brazilian Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, the Argentinean Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, and the Korea Astronomy and Space Institute (KASI). The observatory is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with the NSF. The NSF also serves as the executive agency for the international partnership.


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