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Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium

Gemini Overview Warrick Couch – Aus Gemini Scientist. Gemini instrumentation program – current and near-term Future Gemini instrumentation – the Aspen process Gemini Science Meeting 2004 Australian usage of the Gemini telescopes Australian scientific output from Gemini.

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Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium

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  1. Gemini Overview Warrick Couch – Aus Gemini Scientist • Gemini instrumentation program – current and near-term • Future Gemini instrumentation – the Aspen process • Gemini Science Meeting 2004 • Australian usage of the Gemini telescopes • Australian scientific output from Gemini Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  2. Gemini’s instrumentation program – current and near-term Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  3. GMOS GNIRS T-ReCS bHROS NICI FLAMINGOS-2 GSAOI GSAO GMOS NIRI MICHELLE ALTAIR+LGS NIFS (V2) Instrument Summary Mauna Kea Cerro Pachon Arriving in 2005! Baseline Modes Commissioned About to be Commissioned Instrument Under Development

  4. Current Capabilities Comparison Imager Spectrometer

  5. Current Capabilities Comparison Imager Spectrometer

  6. Stop Press: Gem-S now the world’s first 8m telescope with a silvered primary! 31 May 2004: M1 on Gem-S successfully coated with silver • 4-layer ‘composite’ coating used • Reflectivity at 880nm measured to be 96.3% • Emissivity at 3.8m is 1.3% Al Ag Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  7. Future Gemini instrumentation - the Aspen process - “ defining the Gemini partnership’s scientific visions for the latter half of this decade (and beyond) and hence determining the next generation of instruments for its telescopes…” Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  8. 2003 2004 2005 Aspen 2003 Workshop • Meeting held in June 2003 • Attended by ~100 astronomers which represented interests of many more astronomers world wide • Key product of the meeting was a set of fundamental questions in astronomy that would serve as the basis of the scientific strategic plan for the Observatory

  9. MATTER LIFE ENERGY 2003 2004 2005 Aspen 2003 Workshop • Matter • How do galaxies form? • What is the nature of dark matter on galactic scales? • What is the relationship between super massive black holes and galaxies? • Energy • What is dark energy? • How did the cosmic “dark age” end? • Life • How common are extrasolar planets, including earth-like planets? • How do star and planetary systems form? • How do stars process elements into the chemical building blocks of life?

  10. 2003 2004 2005 Gemini Science Committee 2003 Meeting New Instruments • Extreme AO Coronagraph • High Resolution NIR Spectrometer • Wide Field Fiber-Fed Optical Spectrometer • GLAO NIR Imager • GLAO NIR Spectrometer • Optical IFU Spectrometer • Optical High Resolution Spectrometer • High Resolution MIR Spectrometer • MCAO fed NIR MOS • Wide Field Optical MOS • AO-fed NIR Spectrometer New Facilities • GLAO System including Adaptive Secondary • f/6 Telescope Configuration (1 telescope) • List of potential new instruments needed to address science questions posed at Aspen was discussed at the October 2003 GSC meeting • Merged with rough cost estimates and an upper envelope for the total budget • Prioritized list was defined • Recommended 2 instruments carried forward via design studies and 2 carried forward via feasibility studies • Design studies lead to construction contracts • Feasibility studies lead to design studies

  11. 2003 2004 2005 Gemini Science Committee 2003 Meeting New Instruments • Extreme AO Coronagraph • High Resolution NIR Spectrometer • Wide Field Fiber-Fed Optical Spectrometer • GLAO NIR Imager • GLAO NIR Spectrometer • Optical IFU Spectrometer • Optical High Resolution Spectrometer • High Resolution MIR Spectrometer • MCAO fed NIR MOS • Wide Field Optical MOS • AO-fed NIR Spectrometer New Facilities • GLAO System including Adaptive Secondary • f/6 Telescope Configuration (1 telescope) • List of potential new instruments needed to address science questions posed at Aspen was discussed at the October 2003 GSC meeting • Merged with rough cost estimates and an upper envelope for the total budget • Prioritized list was defined • Recommended 2 instruments carried forward via design studies and 2 carried forward via feasibility studies • Design studies lead to construction contracts • Feasibility studies lead to design studies

  12. 2003 2004 2005 Gemini Science Committee 2003 Meeting New Instruments • Extreme AO Coronagraph • High Resolution NIR Spectrometer • Wide Field Fiber-Fed Optical Spectrometer • GLAO NIR Imager • GLAO NIR Spectrometer • Optical IFU Spectrometer • Optical High Resolution Spectrometer • High Resolution MIR Spectrometer • MCAO fed NIR MOS • Wide Field Optical MOS • AO-fed NIR Spectrometer New Facilities • GLAO System including Adaptive Secondary • f/6 Telescope Configuration (1 telescope) • List of potential new instruments needed to address science questions posed at Aspen was discussed at the October 2003 GSC meeting • Merged with rough cost estimates and an upper envelope for the total budget • Prioritized list was defined • Recommended 2 instruments carried forward via design studies and 2 carried forward via feasibility studies • Design studies lead to construction contracts • Feasibility studies lead to design studies

  13. $ ~$64M 2003 2004 2005 2003 Gemini Board Meeting • GSC recommendations endorsed • 3-stage development program proposed/endorsed by the Board • Begin design studies for an Extreme Adaptive Optics Coronagraph (ExAOC) and High Resolution Near Infrared Spectrometer (HRNIRS) • Begin feasibility studies for a Wide Field Optical Fiber-fed MOS (WFMOS) and Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO) system • Examine options for pursuing science goals identified in Aspen via modifications to existing/planned instruments and/or visitor instruments

  14. From Gemini’s Web Page 2003 2004 2005 Near Term Instrument Development Timeline • Issued Announcements of Opportunity for new Aspen instruments in December 2003 • Triggered broad response within our instrumentation community

  15. 2003 2004 2005 Near Term Instrument Development Timeline • “Scientific Horizons at the Gemini Observatory” completed • Encapsulates the scientific aspirations of our community and, through its completion, closes a key “chapter” in the Aspen Process • The Gemini Partnership is particularly indebted to the Aspen group chairs, who worked tirelessly, in close collaboration with Gemini, to produce this document

  16. 2003 2004 2005 Near Term Instrument Development Timeline • Proposals submitted to Gemini and reviewed by Source Selection Board (SSB) • SSB scored proposals and recommended which teams should be funded to carry forward studies for the ExAOC, HRNIRS, WFMOS, and GLAO • In the process of putting 8 teams under contract now… Including one led by AAO to do GWFMOS feasibility study

  17. 2003 2004 2005 Near Term Instrument Development Timeline • All design and feasibility studies due end of January 2005 • Design studies will be reviewed by expert panels that will recommend a down-select to a single team to go forward with ExAOC and HRNIRS • Feasibility studies will be reviewed though no competitive down-select process required • Entire process enters a “built in hold” state to assess options and determine which, if any, of the instruments should be pursued via follow-on contracts

  18. High Resolution NIR Spectrometer Design Requirements • Single-slit cross-dispersed mode • 0.2 arcsec spatial sampling • Slit length ~3 arcsec • One-shot wavelength coverage as large as possible • Spectral resolution R~70,000 • Absorption cell for precision radial velocity measurements • Multi-object MCAO-fed spectrometer • Spatial sampling 0.05 arcsec • 2 arcmin field of view • Spectral resolution R~30,000 • Multiplex gain of 15-30 • Wavelength range 1.1 to 5 m • Built in wave front sensor • Pipeline processing Tinney to Chair SWG

  19. Wide Field Fiber Fed Optical Multi-Object Spectrometer Design Requirements • Wide field of view 1.5 deg • Multiplex gain of 4000-5000 • Wavelength coverage 0.39 to 1.0 m • Spectral resolution R~1000 to 30,000 • “Slit lengths” (fiber footprint) of ~1 arcsec • One-shot wavelength coverage of 0.4 m • Prime focus fiber feed to individual spectrographs • Pipeline processing Boyle & Freeman on SWG; Colless a liason

  20. Gemini Science Meeting 2004 23-26 May, Vancouver • Aim: to showcase the scientific results obtained with Gemini in its first 4 years of operation + to foster scientific collaboration throughout the partnership • Format:3-day meeting with 60 talks + 21 poster papers presented (with sessions covering complete range of astrophysical areas) • Additional meetings held in conjunction: Gemini “Users”, “NGO” and “PIO” meetings • Participation: 130 astronomers from all of the partner countries (9 from Australia) Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  21. Australian participation in GemSci2004 • 5 talks in the science meeting; Croom/Boyle “QSO host” study also featured as a talk (by D. Schade, Ca) • 2 poster papers in the science meeting (by Da Costa and Pracy/Couch) • 1 invited talk at the Users’ meeting (P. McGregor – NIFS & GSAOI) • 2 reps at the NGO meeting (Ryder & Whiting) A. Melatos (UMelb) P. Francis (RSAA) S. Ryder (AAO) M. Whiting (UNSW) R. Wayth (UMelb) Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  22. Australian Usage of the Gemini Telescopes …as measured through the submission of proposals to the Australian Time Assignment Committee (ATAC), which allocates Australia’s share of time on the Gemini telescopes. Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  23. Time available/requested: the 1st four years Gemini North Gemini South avail req

  24. Demand by institution (proposal nos.) Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  25. Australian publications from Gemini Dec 2003 Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  26. Australian publications from Gemini • But runs at last on the board in 2004: • Croom et al. 2004, “Gemini imaging of QSO host galaxies at z~2”, Ap.J., 606, 126. • Melatos et al. 2004, “Rapid variability of subarcsecond shock structure in the Crab Nebula”, Ap.J. (submitted). • Forbes et al. 2004, “Gemini/GMOS photometry of globular clusters in the Virgo galaxy NGC4649”, MNRAS (submitted). • Stanway, Glazebrook,…..Boyle, Colless, Couch et al. 2004, “Three Ly emitters at z~6: Early Gemini/GMOS data from the GLARE project”, Ap.J., 604, L13. Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  27. Two factors to ponder: ● Average time request/allocation is small: 8.25hrs ● Completion rate of Australian Gemini queue programs: Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  28. Australian Astronomy MNRF Symposium ATNF Marsfield, 8 June 2004

  29. Schedule for instruments coming on-line until 2006 Gemini North Gemini South Hokupa’a-36,OSCIR, NIRI GMOS-N MICHELLE ALTAIR(NGS), (NIFS) ALTAIR (LGS) AcqCam,Flamingos-1 Phoenix CIRPASS GMOS-S, T-ReCSb-HROSGNIRS, Hokupa’a-85 NICI GSAO (NGS), GSAO-Imager Flamingos-2 GSAO (LGS), MCAO 02 03 04 05 06

  30. Functionality at different wavelengths

  31. Functionality at different wavelengths

  32. Scientific usage by Australian researchers Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  33. Australian demand for Gemini (2001 - 2003) : Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  34. Australian demand for Gemini (2001 - 2003) : Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  35. Australian Gemini proposals according to science area: Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  36. International links and collaborations: Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  37. Australian management structure Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  38. Key elements of Australian management structure Gemini Board Member • Appointed by Australian Government; 3 year term • Attend IGP Board meetings and represent the interests of the ARC and Australian users • chair the Australian Gemini Steering Committee • Dr Gary Da Costa (ANU) • Appointed by Australian Government; comprises 9 members • Advise the Australian Government on all matters relating to Australian membership of the IGP • Oversee the operation of the Australian Gemini Office • Appoint the Australian Gemini Scientist and the Gemini Science Advisory Committee Gemini Steering Committee • Advise the Australian Gemini Scientist on all matters relating to the scientific exploitation of Gemini be Australian users • Comprises 13 members, 10 of which are selected to be broadly representative of the entire spectrum of Australian scientific and instrumental interests in Gemini • Liaise with and be the main point of contact with the IGP and other National Gemini Offices on all scientific, operational, instrument matters • Promote, foster and support the use of Gemini facilities by Australian researchers. • Prof. Warrick Couch (UNSW) Gemini Science Advisory Committee Gemini Scientist & Gemini Office Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  39. In addition, there is….. • Officially formed by DEST • Peer reviews applications from Australian astronomers for time on the Gemini telescopes (as well as the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope) • Makes recommendations for allocations of time to the Gemini ITAC Australian Time Assignment Committee (ATAC) Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  40. Australian Gemini Office/Scientist responsibilities in more detail…. • Support Australian proposal submission (Phase I) process, including technical assessment of all proposals • Support Australian observers through observation definition (Phase II) process • Support Gemini Help Desk, responding to all queries from Australian users These tasks currently ‘distributed’ across institutions in Sydney (UNSW, USyd, AAO) and likely to be spread more widely as number of Gemini instruments/users increases Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

  41. Australian Gemini Office/Scientist responsibilities in more detail…. • Maintain a national Gemini website with up to date information on all relevant Gemini activities; maintain a mirror site for the IGP web pages (UNSW/ANU) • Promote Gemini capabilities within Australia (UNSW/ATNF/AAO) • Provide Australian representation in all scientific, operational, and engineering/instrumentation IGP activities (UNSW, UMelb, ANU) Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership ARC Review of LIEF support, Sydney Univ, 20 March 2003

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