The Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign

这个奖项是为了支持双子座NICI行星发现运动。刘博士和合作者将进行迄今为止最大和最灵敏的直接成像调查，以寻找围绕其他恒星运行的大质量（1木星质量）行星。 NICI（近红外日冕成像仪）是双子座南8.1米望远镜上的新的高对比度自适应光学相机，专门用于通过双通道甲烷波段成像直接探测太阳系外行星。NICI有望为年轻人周围的行星同伴提供出色的灵敏度除了提供行星本身的图像外，预计这项工作还将解决太阳系外行星形成方面的三个具体问题：1）其他太阳系外（5-10 Au）区行星的分布，2）行星频率对恒星宿主质量的依赖，3）年轻太阳系外行星的分光光度特性。将通过蒙特卡罗模拟优化目标选择，预计将在150颗被调查的年轻恒星中探测到几颗巨行星，该项目的研究目标将与在项目所有阶段培训一名博士后研究助理同时完成。下一代科学家将接受快速增长的系外行星和自适应光学科学领域的培训，以及在8米望远镜上实时观测的实践经验。特别是，高对比度自适应光学系统的观测技术和专业知识的发展是迈向未来高角分辨率地基天文学的重要一步。本科生也有望通过宇航研究所正在进行的NSF本科生研究经验计划参与这项工作。刘博士还将继续通过公开讲座和讨论参与正在进行的外展工作，其中这项研究和结果将被突出显示。

This award is in support of the Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign. Dr. Liu and collaborators will be conducting the largest and most sensitive direct imaging survey to date for massive (1 Jupiter Mass) planets orbiting other stars. NICI (the Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager) is the new high contrast adaptive optics camera on the Gemini-South 8.1-meter telescope, tailored to direct detection of extrasolar planets through dual-channel methane-band imaging. NICI is expected to provide excellent sensitivity to planetary companions around young ( 100 million years) stars in the extended solar neighborhood.In addition to providing images of the planets themselves, three specific issues in extrasolar planet formation are expected to be addressed through this work: 1) the distribution of planets in the outer ( 5-10 AU) regions of other solar systems, 2) the dependence of planet frequency on stellar host mass, and 3) the spectrophotometric properties of young extrasolar planets. Target selection will be optimized through Monte Carlo simulations and it is expected that several giant planets will be detected among the 150 young stars to be surveyed.The research goals of this project will be accomplished in tandem with the training of a postdoctoral research associate at all stages of the project. This next generation of scientists will receive training in the rapidly growing fields of exoplanets and science with adaptive optics, as well as hands-on experience with real-time observing on an 8-meter telescope. In particular, development of observational techniques and expertise with high contrast adaptive optics systems is an important step toward future high angular resolution ground-based astronomy. Undergraduate students are also expected to be involved in the work through the Institute for Astronmy's ongoing NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Dr. Liu will also continue to participate in ongoing outreach efforts through public lectures and discussions, where this research and the results will be prominently featured.