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arXiv · 0809.3017

Performance of the Near-infrared coronagraphic imager on Gemini-South

Mark Chun·Doug Toomey·Zahed Wahhaj·Beth Biller·Etienne Artigau·Tom Hayward·Mike Liu·Laird Close·Markus Hartung·Francois Rigaut·Christ Ftaclas
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Abstract

We present the coronagraphic and adaptive optics performance of the Gemini-South Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager (NICI). NICI includes a dual-channel imager for simultaneous spectral difference imaging, a dedicated 85-element curvature adaptive optics system, and a built-in Lyot coronagraph. It is specifically designed to survey for and image large extra-solar gaseous planets on the Gemini Observatory 8-meter telescope in Chile. We present the on-sky performance of the individual subsystems along with the end-to-end contrast curve. These are compared to our model predictions for the adaptive optics system, the coronagraph, and the spectral difference imaging.

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Mark Chun, Doug Toomey, Zahed Wahhaj, Beth Biller, Etienne Artigau, Tom Hayward, Mike Liu, Laird Close, Markus Hartung, Francois Rigaut, Christ Ftaclas. 2008-09-17. Performance of the Near-infrared coronagraphic imager on Gemini-South. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787683

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