NICI: combining coronagraphy, ADI, and SDI

Date

2008

Authors

Artigau, Etienne
Biller, Beth
Wahhaj, Zahed
Hartung, Markus
Haywards, Thomas
Close, Laird
Chun, Mark
Liu, Michael C
Trancho, Gelys
Rigaut, Francois

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

Abstract

The Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager (NICI) is a high-contrast AO imager at the Gemini South telescope. The camera includes a coronagraphic mask and dual channel imaging for Spectral Differential Imaging (SDI). The instrument can also be used in a fixed Cassegrain Rotator mode for Angular Differential Imaging (ADI). While coronagraphy, SDI, and ADI have been applied before in direct imaging searches for exoplanets. NICI represents the first time that these 3 techniques can be combined. We present preliminary NICI commissioning data using these techniques and show that combining SDI and ADI results in significant gains.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: Cassegrain rotator; Coronagraphy; Direct imaging; Dual channel; Exo-planets; High contrast; Infrared; Instrumentation; Near Infrared; Astronomical satellites; Astrophysics; Image sensors; Instruments Adaptive optics; Infrared; Instrumentation

Citation

Source

Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy II

Type

Conference paper

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

License Rights

Restricted until

2037-12-31