SGER: Starting the Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign

该奖项支持迄今为止对系外行星进行的最大、最灵敏的直接成像调查。NICI（近红外日冕成像仪）是Gemini-South 8.1米望远镜的新型高对比度自适应光学仪器，专门用于通过双通道甲烷波段成像直接探测系外行星。NICI将为在扩展的太阳附近的年轻（100万年）恒星周围的行星（1木星质量）同伴提供出色的灵敏度。具体来说，关键的准备活动将在重要的多年系外行星成像搜索开始时进行。其中包括优化观测和分析算法，在团队规定的前25%的时间内进行现场观测，以及对新发现的伴星进行及时的跟踪。预计这些观测很可能产生第一个通过直接成像发现的模糊的系外行星。这项工作的研究目标将与在快速发展的系外行星和自适应光学科学领域对博士后的培训以及在8米望远镜上进行实时观测的实践经验相结合。这项工作由天文科学部的恒星天文学和天体物理学项目资助，作为探索性研究的小额资助。

This award supports the largest and most sensitive direct imaging survey for extrasolarplanets conducted to date. The NICI (Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager) is the newhigh contrast adaptive optics instrument for the Gemini-South 8.1-meter telescope,tailored to direct detection of extrasolar planets through dual-channel methane-bandimaging. NICI will provide excellent sensitivity to planetary ( 1 Jupiter Mass)companions around young ( 1 Million years) stars in the extended solar neighborhood.Specifically, key preparatory activities will be undertaken during the beginning of asignificant multi-year imaging search for extrasolar planets. These include optimizingobserving and analysis algorithms, conducting the observations on-site for the first 25%of the team's awarded time, and pursuing prompt follow-up of newly identified planetarycompanions. It is anticipated that these observations may well yield the firstunambiguous extrasolar planets found by direct imaging.The research goals of this work will be accomplished in tandem with the training of apostdoc in the rapidly growing fields of exoplanets and science with adaptive optics, aswell as hands-on experience with real-time observing on an 8-meter telescope.This work is funded from the Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics program of theDivision of Astronomical Sciences, as a Small Grant for Exploratory Research.