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The Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign

The Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign. Three-year campaign @ Gemini-South 8.1-m Telescope for direct imaging of exoplanets: ~500 queue hrs, ~300 stars. Campaign science questions: Started in Dec 2008, completion in late-2011/early-2012.

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The Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign

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  1. The Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign • Three-year campaign @ Gemini-South 8.1-m Telescope for direct imaging of exoplanets: ~500 queue hrs, ~300 stars. • Campaign science questions: • Started in Dec 2008, completion in late-2011/early-2012. What is the frequency of gas-giant planets at > 5-10 AU? How does planet frequency depend on stellar mass? What do the SEDs of young planets look like?

  2. NICI = Dedicated exoplanet imager CH4 short (1.58 m) CH4 long (1.65 m) ASDI 1. High-order NGS AO: UH 85-elem curvature system 2. Spectral Difference Imaging (SDI)‏ 3. Roll subtraction (a.k.a. ADI = angular difference imaging) 4. LyotCoronagraphy

  3. NICI: Near-IR Coronagraphic ImagerGemini-South 8.1-meter Telescope PI: Doug Toomey (MKIR) PS: Christ Ftaclas (IfA/UH) AO: Mark Chun (IfA/UH) Funded by NASA.

  4. The NICI Campaign is targeting ~300 carefully chosen stars, spanning a range of ages, distances & masses. Solar-type (GK)35% High-mass (AF)38% Low-mass (M)27%

  5. NICI Campaign performance is >1−2 mags better than previous AO planet-imaging surveys. Median NICI ASDI contrast @ 1” separation = 15.0 mags

  6. The NICI Campaign is the largest, most sensitive exoplanet imaging survey to date.

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